You want to see the
real degree to which state police departments require change? :
Mumbai cops skip shooting practice
S Ahmed Ali, Aug 6, 2010, 04.22am IST
MUMBAI: In a city where crime is big and terrorists have loved to strike, the police force seems to have taken a dislike to target practice. In the last couple of months, only a handful of personnel have been reporting to the firing range at Ghatkopar every day to train.
The attendance records are so abysmal that Mumbai police commissioner Sanjeev Dayal had to recently issue stern notices to the 90 police stations across the city as well as other branches like the crime branch forcing them to ensure that all personnel clock the annual requisite time-slot of just 20 minutes (once a year) at the firing range. Even encounter specialists were pulled up for not training daily/regularly.
The course is not even very demanding: according to Bombay police service rules, it is mandatory for every policeman to practise long-range (using rifles) and short-range (revolvers and pistols) shooting at the Ghatkopar and Naigaum firing ranges at least for one day in the entire year. In fact, critics say the training should be more rigorous, as currently, a policeman has to put in only 20 minutes of practice for the year. But going by the police chief's admonition, it appears that few cops bother to hone their skills.
Incidentally, in the aftermath of 26/11, cops would drop in at the training ground in droves, with more than 50 to 80 personnel reporting for practice every day.
The numbers began to dwindle at the start of 2010. For instance, TOI has learned that on July 26, only nine policemen reported for target practice at Ghatkopar. The following day, the attendance was two. Sources say it's a similar scene at Naigaum.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...kip-shooting-practice/articleshow/6263817.cms
----
And from Bangalore:
4 out of 5 cops can't shoot straight
Debi Prasad Sarangi, Bangalore, August 19, 2010 DH News Service:
If you thought that the police have learnt a lesson from the Mumbai terror strike of 2008, think again.
Take a look at this disturbing statistics- only 20 per cent of the city's policemen can hit the target. And more over, only 4 to 5 per cent of them can hit the bull's eye with a strike rate of hardly 10 per cent.
As a matter of serious concern that could expose how abysmal the preparedness of the City police force is, only 60 to 65 per cent out of a total number of 14,000 personnel (from the rank of constables to inspectors) attend shooting practice.
Skip practice
As per senior officers, rest of the officers attached to various police stations don't even bother about visiting the firing range, let along about getting their aim straight.
"This is really a matter which needs immediate attention, especially when a Mumbai-like terror attack could happen in a City like Bangalore. Most importantly, the prescribed time frame for practice of shooting (mandatory once in every six months) is not even followed properly. Last time it happened was in July 2009," a senior officer told Deccan Herald on the condition of anonymity.
As a rule, all staff in civil police should take part in the half-yearly shooting exercise. They fire 20 rounds from a distance of 200 yards to prove their mettle in shooting. While personnel up to the rank of head constables use .303 and self loaded rifles (SLR), officers from the rank of assistant sub-inspector to inspector use their service revolvers.
"Only 20 per cent manage to hit the target, which is abysmally low. Out of them only 4 to 5 percent can hit the bull's eye with a maximum of two bullets out of 20. The problem here is that most of them don't take it (shooting exercise) seriously. It should be the DCPs of the zones who should take appropriate action against those who don't come for exercise. Now under such condition the state government is procuring high-end fire arms from other countries. If they simply can not get their aim right with familiar 303 and SLR rifles, what are they going to do with such sophisticated arms," the official questioned.
If somebody hits the target with 10 bullets out of 20, his performance is considered as average. With 16 rounds on the target, the performance is considered as good.
Punishment
According to senior officers in the City Armed Reserve (CAR), there are also provisions for punishment for personnel who don't turn up for the shooting practice.
"Such irregularities happen as most of them are over burdened with work (LOLzz I'm pissing my pants
). But they have to follow the established rules and regulations. If we find anyone avoiding the shooting practice deliberately, his/her increment can be stopped. We can even recommend his/her name for appropriate departmental action which includes cut in pay or cancelling promotion," the officer said.
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/90033/4-5-cops-cant-shoot.html
