By Anantha Krishnan M
Express News Service
Bangalore: The Karnataka Police will soon add the state-of-the-art Cornershot systems to its weaponry, taking its preparedness to tackle terrorism one notch up. Billed as the best weapon system world over, during counter-terrorism operations and close combat missions, Cornershots enable the user to effectively engage targets from multiple directions, without exposing any part of the operator's body. Popular handguns used by the police such as Glock, Sig Sauer and Beretta can be fixed on to Cornershot systems. Express News Service
Alok Mohan, Additional Director General of Police (Administration & Internal Security Division) told Express that as part of the modernisation plans, the forces have been equipped with many gen-next gadgets. “The Karnataka Police have evolved over the years and we are definitely a solid unit with access to modern weaponry. Funds have never been a problem and our focus has been both on equipment and manpower. We are also exploring the possibility of using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for policing,” Alok said. Each Cornershot system costs around Rs 7 lakh.
Bangalore-based Alpha Design Technologies (ADT), in collaboration with an Israeli firm, will deliver undisclosed number to the state police, shortly. Col (Retd) H S Shankar, chairman and managing director, of ADT, said that the state police showed interest in Cornershot during Aero India-2013. “A team from the Karnataka Police had visited us and at the air show and were impressed with the features of the weapon system. We delivered the first piece for trials and evaluation in February this year and got encouraging response. The systems should be delivered by August,” Shankar said. The user can view targets around the corner in real time, through a high-resolution video camera fitted on the system.
Requesting anonymity, a senior police official with the Centre for Counter Terrorism, said that Cornershots ensure pin-point accuracy during operation. “The firing can be so accurate using this system. It's all about split second reaction and this equipment is the best-suited. It is one of the weapon systems being used by more police forces in Indian now. It is an extremely smart system capable of causing maxium damage at short time. We can fit light weapons such as piston and light carbine atop Cornershot. We were given some some basic training we did extensive trials at various ranges,” the official said.
More than 150 such systems have already been delivered to various organisations in India, such as National Security Guards, Maharashtra Police, Octopus (AP Police), Assam Riffles, MARCOS (Marine Commandoes of Indian Navy), Madhya Pradesh Police, Central Reserve Police Force and Special Protection Group.
Copyright@The New Indian Express
