As many as 1,575 firearms of various models confiscated from faction leaders in Kurnool and Kadapa districts between 1976 and 2009 were destroyed, burnt and buried in a big pit dug up on the District Police Training Centre premises here on Thursday.
Kurnool Range DIG Ghattamaneni Srinivas, who launched the programme, said 260 SBBL guns, 256 SBML guns, 78 BBL guns, 522 pistols, 364 resolvers, 93 rifles, sten guns, tapanchas, air guns and air pistols, totalling 1,575 were crushed under road roller, after obtaining permission from higher officials.
Most of the firearms were seized in 1998, Mr. Srinivas added.
Twelve old firearms were, however, retained for exhibition purposes on the advice of the departmental committee, the DIG said. Superintendent of Police Gopinath Jatti and other officials were present.