The controversy surrounding the “sub-standard” bullet-proof jackets, worn by slain police officers Hemant Karkare, Ashok Kamte and Vijay Salaskar on the night of 26/11, rages on.
ActivistSantosh Daundkar filed a PIL in the Bombay high court on Friday, alleging that the state made 16 violations of the rules prescribed for buying bullet-proof jackets. He demanded an inquiry into the lapse that led to the brave officers falling to terrorists’ bullets.
Daundkar said that 110 bullet-proof jackets purchased by the government in 2004 were found to be “sub-standard” following tests. The authorities returned the jackets to the manufacturer, and recovered the Rs24.71 lakh paid for the purchase. However, the same company supplied bullet-proof jackets again, saying that they were of better quality.
“These bullet-proof jackets were worn by the senior police officers, who thought that they would be able to fight the terrorists with adequate protection.
However, when the terrorists fired at them, the bullets pierced their vests, killing them,” the PIL stated. It added that the government ended the case, saying that the allegations about the jackets being of poor quality were ill-founded. “The categorical statement issued by the chief minister clearly indicated that there was a resolve to keep the entire fraud under wraps,” the PIL said.
Daundkar urged the court to ensure that bullet-proof jackets purchased in future were tested by a neutral authority, such as the DRDO or the army, or by honest police officers. He also urged that any further use of the “sub-standard” vests be barred.
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