Centre sanctions purchase of 2,000 BP jackets for Maharashtra

A file picture of Maharashtra Home Minister R.R. Patil. Photo: Shashi Ashiwal.

Maharashtra government on Wednesday informed the Legislative Assembly that Centre had sanctioned purchase of 2,000 bullet-proof jackets and 10,000 SLR rifles for the State police.

“Last night, the Centre sanctioned 2,000 bullet-proof jackets and 10,000 SLR rifles,” State Home Minister R R Patil told the house after the question hour.

The government had come under fire after the July 13 blasts in Mumbai for allegedly not implementing the security measures suggested by Pradhan Committee, which had been set up after the earlier terror strike, of November 26, 2008.

The previous purchase of bullet-proof jackets has been mired in controversy with allegations of irregularities and jackets being substandard.