Mumbai: On 26/11, Mumbai policeman were caught fighting terrorists with lathis and pre-Independence era rifles. Now, in the first major signs of the Maharashtra government's Rs 120-crore attempt to modernise its police force, an array of weapons and bullet-proof vehicles have been given to Mumbai Police's first responders, a Quick Response Team that will man the city and respond to every crisis situation.
The much promised upgrade for the Mumbai Police has state-of-the-art weapons imported from the US and Germany to arm and modernise a force that on 26/11 fought terrorists with lathis and .303 rifles.
The Mumbai Police has drawn its fittest to form the Quick Response Team. It has 900 specially trained men, divided into five teams placed across the city.
The teams will be equipped with a range of weaponry: Smith and Wesson pistols, MP 9 tactical pistols, grenade launchers and bullet- proof combat vehicles.
D Sivanandan, Mumbai Police Commissioner says: "This is not the end of our preparation. We are going to change and add on to our capabilities. From 26/11 we have come a long way."
Apart from the antiquated armoury going through a sea-change after 26/11, Mumbai Police also realizes that the city needs a force that's healthy in body, mind and spirit.
"All of them will receive double salary. We feel the Mumbai Police is ready to take on any type of attack. The Commissioner has also organised yoga to release stress and medical check-ups for all 43,000 people," says Jayant Patil, Home Minister.
Sivanandan adds: "We need a force that is fit and healthy. So we are training 300 wives on how to cook a proper diet for their husbands."