The 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai which killed 166 people exposed the poor quality of weapons in the police armoury. Following the attack, the Mumbai police went overboard and purchased sophisticated weapons, including a Barrett, costing Rs4 lakh from the US.

The deadly weapon, however, is lying unused in the local arms department’s armoury since 2009 as there is nobody to train the What’s worse, no combat agency in the country has the weapon and so, nobody knows how to use it.

“The Force One has a less sophisticated weapon than the Barrett. The National Security Guards do not have the rifle. We are now asking the Indian Army to train us in using the weapon,” said a police officer. “But the weapon is not useful in a city like Mumbai. It can ideally be used when a person has to be shot from a long distance. Since it is a long-range weapon, it cannot be used in our firing ranges.”

The officer said Barrett - popularly known as the M82A1 rifle - is manufactured by Barrett Firearms in the US. “The rifle has a firing range of up to 6,800 metres with a magazine capacity of 10 bullets. It can neutralise the enemy and destroy hidden targets at far-off distances,” the officer said. “It is fitted with a sophisticated telescope device. It is one of the most trusted weapons during a hostage-like situation.”

Sources said the state police plans to procure weapons worth Rs437 crore by 2014. The Centre and the state have agreed to fund the purchase of the weapons. It remains to be seen whether the police learn from their mistakes and avoid purchasing weapons without giving their usefulness and feasibility a thought.