Thiruvananthapuram: The state police will soon be adding 200 self-loading rifles (SLRs) to its armoury, according to sources. This comes a year after the department purchased 200 sub-machine guns to boost its close combat operation capabilities.The 7.62mm rifles will be purchased from Ordinance Factory, Thiruchirappalli using the Rs 1.59-crore central government funds set aside for the purpose. An order in this regard was issued by the home department on July 7. The move is expected to address the present SLR shortage in the force. The 7.62mm SLR is a self-loading gas operated and air-cooled rifle. A gas cylinder and an adjustable gas regulator are fitted on the top of the barrel.The amount of gas acting on the piston is controlled by the gas regulator to ensure smooth functioning. A flash eliminator is fitted on the muzzle end on which a bayonet can be fitted. A projector grenade can also be fitted for grenade firing on the rifle.However, it is learnt that the rifle that weighs 5.50kg with full magazine, sling and bayonet, is being phased out by the Army and paramilitary forces due to reliability issues even though it is considered to be an accurate weapon.This is the first major arms procurement by the state police this year. In January 2017, the West Bengal-based Rifle Factory Ishapore (RFI) had handed over to the state police the first consignment of the Ghaatak rifle, developed indigenously for use by the defence, central paramilitary and state police forces. Later in December, the state police had purchased 200 9mm sub-machine guns from the small arms factory, Kanpur.Kerala falls under ‘category B’ of states for which funds for modernization will be shared on a 60:40 ratio between the Centre and the state respectively.Meanwhile, the state is facing an ammunition shortage, according to police sources. A senior police officer said that the existing supply is not enough even for training. “We are also short of some arms that are used more in urban warfare, like assault rifles and pistols,” the official said.

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