State police team leaves for Kohima to replenish anti-riot weaponry

Imphal, Aug 6: The state police department is facing a new scare as it has run out of anti-riot weapons which are urgently needed to controll agitating masses, specially in the valley districts.

Stocks have exhausted apparently due to the excessive use during the last four days against agitators who have been clashing relentlessly with security personnel, mainly in the greater Imphal areas, according to a highly placed official source.

The source further said that the stock of anti-riot weapons in the state police department have already been used by the state forces while attempting to disperse the agitating mobs who have been demonstrating against the recent alleged fake ecounter at Bt road in Imphal on July 23.

Over 3,500 anti-riot weapons including mock bombs, tear gas, smoke bombs and tear gas shells have already been used during the last three days by the state forces in greater Imphal areas, the source added.

Meanwhile, considering the problems which could arise for the security forces because of the shortage of the items, a team of state forces led by one Subedar of the 4th IRB has rushed to Kohima yesterday to borrow six truckloads of anti-riot weapons.

An official intimation has been sent to the Nagaland DGP by the state DGP for the delivery of the required anti-riot weapons urgently, the official source mentioned.