FIRE POWER SO FAR

SOME STATES ALREADY ISSUE FIREARMS, WHILE OTHERS ARE YET TO TAKE A DECISION

ANDHRA PRADESH: Double-barrel 12 bore shotguns and 0.32 calibre revolvers have been distributed in five districts that are home to red sanders trees. There are also plans to supply firearms to frontline staff

ASSAM: 7.62x51 mm self-loading rifles, 5.56x45 mm INSAS rifles, 9 mm pistols, 12 bore shotguns and 0.303 rifles have been issued to the police and foresters tasked with guarding the Kaziranga National Park

HIMACHAL PRADESH: Since 2016, forest personnel posted at checkposts in Bilaspur, Dharamshala, Hamirpur, Nalagarh, Nurpur and Una forest ranges have been permitted to carry pistols, guns, revolvers or rifles to check illegal tree felling and lumber smuggling

KARNATAKA: About 2,000 weapons, including revolvers, pistols, slide-action guns, rifles and singleand double-barrel shotguns have been issued, though most are outdated. Guards are hesitant to use them because every firing incident causing injury or death leads to an FIR being filed, followed by an inquiry

MADHYA PRADESH: Issued weapons include 0.315 calibre rifles, pump-action shotguns and 0.32 revolvers

RAJASTHAN: Issued weapons include 0.22 calibre revolvers and double-barrel 12 bore shotguns

UTTARAKHAND: Forest department offices in the state have frequently requested firearms to be issued to staff, especially since June 2019, when forest guard Bahadur Singh Chauhan was shot dead by timber smugglers in the Berhaini range of the Terai Central forest division. No decision has been taken so far

UTTAR PRADESH: Issued weapons include 0.315 calibre rifles and 12 bore shotguns

WEST BENGAL: Issued weapons include 12 bore shotguns and 0.315 calibre rifles. The state government is considering providing small arms—revolvers and pistols—to range officers