HYDERABAD: As riot-like situations are breaking out at regular intervals, police have decided to procure four more riot control vehicles (RCV).

With a spurt in communal disturbances in Old City and pro-Telangana forces gearing up for another round of agitation, the Hyderabad police are ill-equipped with just a few RCVs, loaded with features to lob tear gas shells, secured shifting of forces, communication devices and other facilities. An RCV is a rugged vehicle, protected with grills on all sides, and could be used during complex situations like stone pelting.

It is learnt that the city police are planning to procure at least four to five RCVs as they are mostly dependent on vehicles of central forces. Apart from controlling rioters by lobbing teargas shells, the vehicle helps officers make public announcements. Even during last Friday's violence following the noon prayers, one RCV was pressed into service and it did a few rounds near Charminar.

"A proposal to procure more RCVs was sent to the state government along with the need to purchase non-lethal weapons with a budget of Rs 9.6 crore. This was planned to be purchased as part of the Union home ministry's scheme of Mega Policing", a senior Hyderabad police officer said. Recently, the state government, in view of the unrest in the city and the Telangana region, had sanctioned Rs 1 crore and directed the home department to procure riot gear (24,000 lathis,1,200 shields and 1,500 helmets) and permitted them to float tenders too.

The Hyderabad police are ill-equipped with arms and ammunition and continue to use old weapons, including guns, for providing security cover to MLAs and other VVIPs by the City Security Wing (CSW). However, the government is yet to take a decision on this request, which was sent a few months ago. Swift action might be needed since pro-Telangana forces are once again gearing up for another round of agitation. As the Union government might spell out its stand on Telangana soon, police are gearing up to tackle the situation post the announcement.

