Law enforcement in India
Law enforcement in India is imperative to keep justice and order in the nation. Indian law is enforced by a number of agencies. Unlike many federal nations, the constitution of India delegates the maintenance of law and order primarily to the states and territories.[1]
At the federal level, some of India's paramilitary forces are part of the Ministry of Home Affairs and support the states. Larger cities have their own police forces under their respective state police (except the Kolkata Police that is autonomous and reports to state's Home Secretary). All senior officers in the state police forces and federal agencies are members of the Indian Police Service (IPS).[citation needed]India has some special tactical forces both on the federal and state level to deal with terrorist attacks like Mumbai Police Quick Response Team, National Security Guard, Anti-Terrorism Squad, Delhi Police SWAT, etc.
Central agencies
The central agencies are controlled by the central government. Most federal law-enforcement agencies are under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The head of each agency is an IPS officer. The constitution assigns responsibility for maintaining law and order to the states and territories, and almost all routine policing—including the apprehension of criminals—is done by state-level police forces. The constitution also permits the central government to participate in police operations and organization by authorizing the creation of the Indian Police Service.
Central police forces can assist a state's police force if requested by a state government. During the 1975–77 Emergency, the constitution was amended on 1 February 1976 to permit the central government to deploy its armed police forces without state permission. The amendment was unpopular, and use of the central police forces was controversial. After the Emergency was lifted, the constitution was again amended in December 1978 to restore the status quo.
Ministry of Home Affairs
The principal national ministry concerned with law enforcement is the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which supervises a large number of government functions and agencies operated and administered by the central government. The ministry is concerned with matters pertaining to the maintenance of public peace and order, the staffing and administration of the public services, delineation of internal boundaries, and the administration of union territories.
In addition to controlling the IPS, the Ministry of Home Affairs maintains several agencies and organizations dealing with police and security. Police in the union territories are under the MHA. The
Central Armed Police Forces
Border Security Force
The
The
Originally charged with guarding India's external borders, the BSF has been tasked with
BSF operates a Tear-Smoke Unit at its
Central Industrial Security Force
The
Central Reserve Police Force
The
Indo-Tibetan Border Police
The 90,000-member Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) is responsible for security along the 2,115-kilometre (1,314 mi) Indo-Tibetan border and its surrounding areas. ITBP personnel are trained in maintaining law and order, military tactics, jungle warfare, counter-insurgency, and internal security. They were also deployed to Indian diplomatic missions located in Afghanistan.[5]
National Security Guard
The National Security Guard (NSG) is a commando unit originally created for counter-terrorism and hostage-rescue missions. Founded in 1986, it is popularly known as the "Black Cats" for its uniform. Like most military and elite-security units in India, it avoids the media and the Indian public is largely unaware of its capabilities and operational details.
The NSG draws its core members from the Indian Army, and the balance is support staff from other central police units. An NSG team and a transport aircraft is stationed at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, ready to deploy in 30 minutes.
Sashastra Seema Bal
Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), founded in 1963, is deployed at the Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan borders. SSB, with over 82,000 personnel, is trained in maintaining law and order, military tactics, jungle warfare, counter-insurgency, and internal security. Its personnel are also deployed to the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), Special Protection Group (SPG), National Security Guard. Officers begin as an assistant commandant (equivalent to deputy superintendent of police on a state force), and retire with the rank of inspector general (IG).
Special Protection Group
The Special Protection Group (SPG), the central government's executive protection agency, is responsible for the protection of the Prime Minister of India and their immediate family. The force was established in 1985, after the assassination of Indira Gandhi. It provides daily, round-the-clock security throughout India to the present Prime Minister and his family.
Central investigation and intelligence institutions
Central Bureau of Investigation
The
The bureau is controlled by the Department of Personnel and Training in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions of the government of India, usually headed by the Prime Minister as the Minister of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. India's Interpol unit, the CBI draws its personnel from IPS officers throughout the country. Specializing in crimes involving high-ranking government officials and politicians, the CBI has also accepted other criminal cases because of media and public pressure (usually due to local-police investigative incompetence).
Income Tax Department
The
The Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is headed by the Director General of Intelligence (Income Tax), which was created to address cross-border black money. The DCI conducts unobtrusive investigations of "persons and transactions suspected to be involved in criminal activities having cross-border, inter-state or international ramifications, that pose a threat to national security and are punishable under the direct tax laws."[6]
Commissioners of the ITD's intelligence directorate posted in cities such as Delhi, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, and Lucknow will also conduct criminal investigations for the DCI. The ITD's intelligence wing oversees the Central Information Branch (CIB), which has a repository of data on taxpayers' financial transactions.
Directorate of Revenue Intelligence
The
Central Economic Intelligence Bureau
The Central Economic Intelligence Bureau (CEIB) is the intelligence agency responsible for gathering information and monitoring the economic and financial sectors for economic offenses and warfare.
Directorate General of GST Intelligence
The Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI), formerly the Directorate General of Central Excise Intelligence (DGCEI), is an intelligence-based organization responsible for tax evasion cases related to central excise duty and Goods and Service Tax (GST). Officers are drawn from the Indian Revenue Service and Group B of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs.
National Investigation Agency
The
Narcotics Control Bureau
The Narcotics Control Bureau is responsible for anti-narcotics operations nationwide, checking the spread of contraband and the cultivation of drugs. Officers in the bureau are drawn from the IPS and IRS.
Bureau of Police Research and Development
The Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD) was established on 28 August 1970 to modernize the police forces. It researches police issues, including training and the introduction of technology at the central and state levels.
National Crime Records Bureau
In 1979, the National Police Commission recommended the creation of agency to maintain criminal records and a database shareable at the federal and state levels. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) was established by combining the Directorate of Coordination Police Computers, the Central Fingerprint Bureau, the Data Section of Coordination Division of the Central Bureau of Investigation, and the Statistical Section of the Bureau of Police Research and Development.
Central forensic institutions
Central Forensic Science Laboratory
The Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), a wing of the Ministry of Home Affairs, houses the only DNA repository in South and Southeast Asia. There are seven central forensic laboratories: in Hyderabad, Kolkata, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Pune, Guwahati and New Delhi. CFSL Hyderabad is a centre of excellence in chemical sciences, CFSL Kolkata in biological sciences, and CFSL Chandigarh in the physical sciences. The laboratories are primarily controlled by the ministry's Directorate of Forensic Science (DFS); the New Delhi lab is under the Central Bureau of Investigation, and investigates cases on its behalf.
National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Science
The
State police
Authority over a state police force is held by the state's home department, led by a
The Police Act of 1861 established the principles of organization for police forces in India and, with minor modifications, continues in effect. Although state police forces are separate and may differ in quality of equipment and resources, their patterns of organization and operation are similar.
The director general of police (State Police Chief) reports to the head of the home department of the state, generally an Indian Administrative Service officer at the rank of additional chief secretary or principal secretary to the state government. Under the director general there are police zones composed of two or more police ranges, headed by the inspectors general (IGP), under police zones there are police ranges composed of three to six police districts, headed by the deputy inspectors general (DIG). District police headquarters are commanded by superintendents of police (SP), who have discretionary powers and oversee subordinate police stations, criminal-investigation detachments, equipment storehouses and armories, and traffic police. The head of the district police unit is known as District Police Chief, who has the rank of superintendent of police (SP).
Most preventive police work is carried out by constables assigned to police stations. Depending on the number of stations, a district may be subdivided and further divided into police circles to facilitate supervision by district headquarters. Most major metropolitan areas, such as Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi have police commissionerates under the state police and headed by police commissioners. Police in the states and union territories are assisted by units of volunteer Home Guards under guidelines formulated by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
In most states and territories, police forces are divided into civil (unarmed) police and armed police contingents. Civil police staff police stations, conduct investigations, answer routine complaints, perform traffic duties, and patrol the streets. They usually carry
Armed police are divided into two groups: district armed police (DAR) and the
The Provincial Armed Constabulary or State Armed Police is an armed reserve maintained at key locations in some states and activated on orders from the deputy inspector general and higher-level authorities. Armed constabulary are not usually in contact with the public unless they are assigned to VIP duty or maintaining order during fairs, festivals, athletic events, elections, and natural disasters. They may be sent to quell outbreaks of student or labour unrest, organized crime, and communal riots; to maintain key guard posts, and to participate in anti-terrorism operations. Depending on the assignment, the Provincial Armed Constabulary may only carry lathis.
Senior police officers answer to the police chain of command, and respond to the general direction of designated civilian officials. In the municipal force, the chain of command runs to the state home secretary rather than the district superintendent or district officials.
Recruits receive about ₹ 30,000 per month. Opportunities for promotion are limited because of the system of horizontal entry into higher grades.[clarification needed] A 2016 article on the Maharashtra state police describes why reform is needed.[10]
Women have entered into the higher echelons of Indian police in greater numbers since the late 1980s, primarily through the Indian Police Service system. Female officers were first used in 1972, and a number of women hold key positions in state police organizations. Their absolute numbers, however, are small. Uniformed and undercover women police officers have been deployed in New Delhi as the Anti-Eve Teasing Squad, which combats the sexual harassment of women ("Eves"). Several women-only police stations have been established in Tamil Nadu to handle sex crimes against women.
Uniforms
Uniforms of state and local police vary by grade, region, and type of duty. The main service uniform for state police is khaki. Some cities, such as
Organisation
The state police is headed by an IPS officer with the rank of director general of police (DGP), assisted by two (or more) additional directors general of police (ADGs). Other DGP rank officers head autonomous bodies not controlled by the DGP, such as the police recruitment board, fire service and police training, vigilance, anti-corruption bureau, prisons department, police housing society, police welfare bureau, etc. State forces are organised into zones, which consist of two (or more) ranges. Important zones are headed by an additional director general of police (ADGP), and other zones are headed by an inspector-general of police (IG). Ranges consist of several districts. Important ranges are headed by an IG, and other ranges are headed by a DIG.
Important districts are headed by a senior superintendent of police (SSP), and other districts are headed by a superintendent of police (SP). If an SSP is heading the district, they are assisted by two (or more) SPs. If an SP is heading the district, they are generally assisted by one or two) Additional SPs. Each district is divided into sub-divisions or circles, under a deputy superintendent of police (DSP). Each sub-division consists of several police stations commanded by an inspector of police, who is assisted by sub-inspectors (SIs) and assistant sub-inspectors (ASIs). In rural areas, a sub-inspector is in charge of a police station; whereas the police circle inspector supervise the functions of the police stations. sub-inspectors (and higher) can file a charge sheet in court.
District SPs are not empowered as executive magistrates. The
Other than the district police forces, there can be various other departments under the state police, such as
Government Railway Police
The Government Railway Police (GRP) is the security police force that is responsible for policing on the railway stations and trains of Indian Railways. Its duties correspond to those of the District Police in the areas under their jurisdiction, but only on railway property. While Railway Protection Force (RPF) comes under Ministry of Railways, Government of India, GRP comes under the respective state police or UT police.[13][14]
Police Commissionerates
Some major metropolitan cities use the police commissionerate system (like
Even during the colonial era, the presidency towns of Calcutta, Bombay and Madras had commissionerate system.
Reporting to the Police Commissioner (CP) are the Joint Police Commissioner (Joint CPs), Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCPs) and Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACPs). Commissioners of police and their deputies are empowered as executive magistrates to enforce Section 144 of the CrPC and issue arms licenses.
Police commissionerates are subordinate to the state police except for the
Traffic police
Highway police and traffic police in small towns are under the state police; traffic police in cities are under the metropolitan and state police.
Traffic police maintain a smooth traffic flow and stop offenders.
Highway police secure the highways and catch speeders. Accidents, registrations, and vehicle data are checked by traffic police.
State Armed Police Forces
The
Sr No | Name of the State | State Armed Police Forces |
---|---|---|
1 | Andhra Pradesh | Andhra Pradesh State Special And Reserved Police Force |
2 | Arunachal Pradesh | Arunachal Pradesh Armed Police |
3 | Assam | Assam Police Battalion |
4 | Bihar | Bihar Military Police |
5 | Goa | Indian Reserve Battalion
|
6 | Gujarat | Gujarat State Reserve Police Force |
7 | Haryana | Haryana Armed Police |
8 | Himachal Pradesh | Indian Reserve Battalion |
9 | Jharkhand | Jharkhand Armed Police |
10 | Karnataka | Karnataka State Reserve Police Force |
11 | Kerala | Kerala Armed Police, Malabar Special Police, Special Armed Police |
12 | Madhya Pradesh | Madhya Pradesh Special Armed Police Force (SAF) |
13 | Maharashtra | Maharashtra State Reserve Police Force |
14 | Manipur | Manipur Rifles & Indian Reserve Battalions |
15 | Meghalaya | Meghalaya Armed Police Battalions & Indian Reserve Battalions |
16 | Mizoram | Mizoram Armed Police & Indian Reserve Battalions |
17 | Nagaland | Nagaland Armed Police & Indian Reserve Battalions |
18 | Odisha | Odisha Special Armed Police |
19 | Punjab | Punjab Armed Police |
20 | Rajasthan | Rajasthan Armed Constabulary |
21 | Sikkim | Sikkim Armed Police[15] |
22 | Tamil Nadu | Tamil Nadu Special Police |
23 | Telangana | Telangana State Special Police |
24 | Tripura | Tripura State Rifles[16] & Indian Reserve Battalions |
25 | Uttar Pradesh | Uttar Pradesh Provincial Armed Constabulary |
26 | Uttarakhand | Uttarakhand Provincial Armed Constabulary |
27 | West Bengal | West Bengal Armed Police Forces, Eastern Frontier Rifles & Kolkata Armed Police |
State agencies
In addition to state police forces, there are several other law enforcement agencies under the control of state governments in India. These agencies are specialized in their respective areas of law enforcement. Here are some examples:
State Excise Departments
The State Excise Department is responsible for enforcing laws related to the production, sale, and consumption of alcoholic beverages and other controlled substances within the state. They regulate and monitor the licensing, taxation, and distribution of such substances.[17] They are responsible for the enforcement of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) and various state laws relating to narcotics. Here is a list of some State Excise Departments in India:
- Kerala Excise
- Telangana Excise
- Andhra Pradesh Prohibition and Excise Department
- Department of Excise & Taxation, Haryana
- Karnataka Excise
- Tamil Nadu Prohibition and Excise Department
State Forest Departments
The State Forest Department is tasked with protecting and conserving the state's forests and wildlife. They enforce forest laws, prevent illegal logging, poaching, and smuggling of wildlife, and promote environmental conservation.[18]
- Kerala Forest and Wildlife Department
- Tamil Nadu Forest Department
- Maharashtra Forest Department
- Karnataka Forest Service
- Forests Department, Haryana
- Department of Forest and Wildlife (Punjab)
- Telangana Forest Department
- Environment and Forests Department (Uttarakhand)
- Environment and Forests Department (Assam)
- Environment and Forests Department (Arunachal Pradesh)
State Transport Departments
State Motor Vehicles Departments (MVDs) or Transport Departments are government agencies responsible for the administration and regulation of motor vehicles and road transport within each state in India. These departments are primarily focused on implementing and enforcing the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and other relevant laws pertaining to motor vehicles. They are tasked with the enforcement of Motor Vehicles Act and state rules. Each state has its own State Motor Vehicles Department, often headed by a Commissioner of Transport or a similar administrative position.[19]
- Kerala Motor Vehicles Department
- Department of Transport (Tamil Nadu)
Anti-corruption Bureau
Vigilance Departments or Anti-Corruption Bureaus are specialized law enforcement agencies under state governments, that are responsible for combating corruption and promoting integrity within the government and public administration. These departments primarily focus on preventing, detecting, and investigating corruption-related offenses involving public officials.[20]
- Kerala Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB)
- Anti-Corruption Bureau (Maharashtra) (ACB)
- Anti-Corruption Bureau (Andhra Pradesh)
Role of women
In 1972, Kiran Bedi became the first female Indian Police Service officer. Twenty years later, Asha Sinha was the first female commandant of the paramilitary forces. Kanchan Chaudhary Bhattacharya was the first female director general of police in a state when she was appointed DGP of the Uttarakhand Police. In 2018, IPS Officer Archana Ramasundram became the first female paramilitary DGP (Sashastra Seema Bal).[21]
Women had previously been limited to supervisory roles in the Central Armed Police Forces.
Forest Service
The maintenance of Forest and Forest land falls within the ambit of respective Forest services of state who is headed by Indian Forest Service (IFoS) Officer. The main mandate of the service is the implementation of the National Forest Policy in order to ensure the
There are reports of forest guards being overwhelmed by the animals and poachers and smuggler due to lack of equipment or obsolete equipment. Forest Guards have been reported not able to fight back since they have been under heavy restrictions of usage of weapons and even if available they are no match to automatic weapons employed by the poachers and smugglers.[24][25]
Although due to nature of the duty Forest guards is a male dominated profession more and more women have been recruited in forest services. This women guards are performing duty akin to their male counterparts. The role of women in Forest service is highlighted in
The Forest Department although greatly restricted in carrying firearm, These firearms are only for protection of self and accompanying forest personnels including temporary workers, and the conditions of use of firearms of all descriptions are very rigidly laid out and the use of every cartridge, even for training purposes, has to be immediately accounted for to the department as well as to the Executive Magistrate having jurisdiction and the police. In case of any human casualties arising out of use of these firearms the Executive Magistrate having jurisdiction conducts enquiry and only when he finds that the use of fire arms was unauthorised, illegal, or excessive, further action is taken by the police. Injuries or death of wild animals of all descriptions has to be reported to the Chief Wildlife Warden of the state without delay first over wireless and then in writing.[
The Forest Department are usually travel in Mahindra Jeep or other off-road vehicle, the Forest Department also travel on motorcycles especially
The Forest guards have uniforms similar to that of police with women also being given option of Salwar kameez.
Selection and training
The recruitment process differs by position, and direct entry (where an applicant does not have to start at the lowest level) is possible. Educational requirements increase for higher posts.
Assistant superintendents of police (ASP) are recruited annually by the independent Union Public Service Commission by competitive examination, and are appointed to the Indian Police Service. The IPS officers are then assigned to a state force. Trainee officers undergo 44 weeks of initial training, which includes invited lawyers and management consultants. At the end of their probation, they have several weeks of orientation at the state police academy.
Non-managerial positions are selected by the state (or central) government, and are trained at police recruit schools. The length of training for inspectors is about a year; for constables, it is nearly nine months. School training staff is drawn from the police force. Police are trained in basic law, self-protection, weapons handling and other skills at recruit stations. Superior recruits receive special training.
Recruitment for state police is conducted by state police recruitment boards. Eligibility standards are set by the central government, depending on state demographics.
Transport
Vehicle | Origin | Use | Image |
---|---|---|---|
Royal Enfield 350/500 | India | Used for patrolling and as intercepters, Acrobatic team, convoy motorcycle. | |
Harley-Davidson Street 750 | USA | Exclusively used by Gujarat Police & Kolkata Police for piloting VIP convoys | |
Bajaj Pulsar 150 | India | Used mainly by traffic police and for responding to Calls | |
Hero Splendor
|
India | Not the most common police vehicle but mainly used by police of rural regions. | |
TVS Apache | India | Used by traffic cops as intercepters and also for patrolling. | |
Tata Safari Storme | India | Used by tactical police forces (such as SWAT), senior bureaucrats, and as police responding Units [Dial-100] in Madhya Pradesh. | |
Mahindra Scorpio | India | Used by almost all Police Departments in India, by special forces, senior bureaucrats, income-tax and central excise officers. It is also used in escorts. | |
Mahindra Major jeep | India | Mainstay of all state police, being phased out from service. It was once a face for Indian Police, after being replaced by Mahindra Bolero. | |
Mahindra Rakshak | India | Used as an armoured personnel carrier, riot control | |
Tata Vajra | India | Used as an armoured personnel carrier, riot control | |
Mahindra XUV500 | India | Used by investigation cells of police, Special Forces, senior bureaucrats, VIP escorts, and income-tax officers. | |
Isuzu D-max | Japan, India | Used by special forces of Nagaland and Karnataka Police for ops. | |
Ashok Leyland MBPV | India | Used by Punjab Police SWAT Team and Kerala Police Thunderbolts (SWAT Team) | |
Mahindra Marksman | India | Used by special forces like Riot control units of Delhi Police and Mumbai police, Karnataka police |
|
Tata LATC | India | Used by special forces like Riot control units of Delhi Police and Mumbai police, Karnataka police |
|
Tata Nexon | India | Electric version being employed by Motor vehicles department of State of Kerala | |
Maruti Suzuki SX4 | India, Japan | Used by judges, ministers, and Telecom Regulatory Authority of India advisors and as Escorts of Members of The Parliament, Delhi police | |
Maruti Suzuki Ertiga | India | Used in Bangalore City Police's mobile beat/patrol fleet Hoysala and their all-women patrol called Pink Hosyala. | |
Force Gurkha | India | Used exclusively by Kerala Police for patrolling rough and bad terrain, hill station and rural areas and naxal affected regions. | |
Toyota Innova | Japan, India | Used by police as investigator's vehicle, also used by senior bureaucrats, income-tax and central excise officers, and as highway patrol units. | |
Chevrolet Tavera | India, US | It is used by police in all sorts of activities. Also used by senior bureaucrats and as highway patrol units and also are used for customs raids.
|
|
Tata Xenon | India | used by NSG, Indian Army, and Several police Departments like Lucknow police, Mumbai police, Madhya Pradesh police, etc. | |
Toyota Fortuner | Japan, India | Used by ministers and high-ranking law-enforcement officials of NIA, CBI, and IB. It has been also deployed by ITBP on China border. | |
Mahindra TUV 300
|
India | Used as patrol vehicle. It is used by Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Mumbai, Lucknow and Andhra Pradesh police.
|
|
Honda Civic | Japan, India | Used by judges, ministers, and Income Tax Appellate Tribunal members. | |
Toyota Corolla | Japan, India | Used by judges, ministers, and Telecom Regulatory Authority of India advisors, Tamil Nadu police | |
Tata Sumo | India | It was once the face of Indian police forces and was known and used for its tough terrain capabilities and is spacious. | |
Tata Indigo CS | India | Squad car, senior bureaucrats such as the commissioners of Income Tax, Police, Customs and Central Excise | |
Chevrolet Captiva | India, US | Used by ministers and MPs. | |
Hindustan Ambassador | India | Used by senior bureaucrats, police, income-tax, central excise and customs officers and ministers, most of Indian police | |
Ford Endeavor
|
India, US | Used by ministers and some Police forces Like Lucknow police, Mumbai police, Para-military, etc., for heavy-duty usage. | |
Mitsubishi Pajero | Japan, India | Used for VIP Security duties, etc. | |
Maruti Gypsy
|
Japan, India | Used by Delhi Police, Tamil Nadu Police, Uttar Pradesh Police and the Indian Army as squad cars and responding units. | |
Mahindra Bolero | India | Squad car and common police vehicle of Kerala, Telangana, Gujarat state polices, central excise-and-customs and state excise department officers | |
Hyundai Accent | Korea, India | Squad car, additional commissioners of income tax, and police. Used by Police Departments Like Tamil Nadu, Kerala and the state of AP | |
Tata 407 | India | Variants of this model used in riot control, armored personnel carrier, prison van, police personnel carrier | |
Tata bus | India | Prison van and for transporting Police personnel, most of Indian police | |
Renault Sherpa | France | Used by CISF and NSG | |
Motor patrol boats | India | Used by Marine Police |
Unlike other countries, Indian state police forces rely on
Depending upon the state, police vehicles may have revolving lights, strobes, or light bars and public announcement systems, surveillance cameras. A modernization drive has ensured that vehicles are equipped with two-way radios in communication with a central control room. Highway police vehicles generally have radar equipment, breath analyzers, and emergency first aid kits. For traffic regulation and city patrol, motorcycles are also used; most was the Indian version of the Royal Enfield Bullet, but the Bajaj Pulsar and TVS Apache are also used.
Weapons and equipment
Weapons and equipment vary from state to state and agency to agency. Standard equipment for a constable on the beat is the lathi, or long baton—generally made of bamboo, but currently also made of polymer. Riot police have other equipment, including tear gas and tasers.
Although police constables do not generally carry firearms on regular duty, they are available at police stations. Officers at and above the rank of
Firearms previously stocked at police stations included .303 Lee–Enfield rifles (now replaced), 7.62 1A self-loading rifles and SAF Carbine 2A1s, which have been replaced by AK-47 and INSAS rifles. The Ordnance Factory Board is a supplier of arms, ammunition, uniforms, bullet-proof vehicles, and mine-protected vehicles to the police. Only a station officer can allow the use of reserve guns in emergencies. During public unrest, protests or possible terrorist attacks, police are equipped by the state (or central) government.
Special units at the state and federal level have automatic weapons, such as the AK-47, AKM and INSAS assault rifles and Bren guns. Special-forces and SWAT units use Heckler & Koch MP5s, Brügger & Thomet MP9s, AK-103s, M4A1 Carbines and others. Bulletproof jackets are generally not worn by state police, although special units carry tactical vests, gear, and weapons according to function.
Name | Weapon | Type | Caliber | Origin | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Handguns | |||||
Beretta 92 | Semi-automatic pistol | 9×19mm Parabellum
|
Italy | Standard issue firearm | |
Pistol Auto 9mm 1A | Semi-automatic pistol | 9×19mm Parabellum
|
India | Standard issue firearm | |
Glock 17
|
Semi-automatic pistol | 9×19mm Parabellum
|
Austria | Standard Issue Firearm | |
IOF .32 revolver
|
Revolver | 7.65mm x 23mm | India | Standard issue firearm | |
CornerShot | weapon accessory | Israel and India | Used by SWAT Team. | ||
Shotgun | |||||
OFB pump action Shotgun | Pump action | 12-gauge shotgun
|
India | Used mostly by prison service and Forest Departments | |
Sub-Machine Gun | |||||
SAF Carbine 2A1 | Submachine gun | 9×19mm Parabellum
|
India | Phasing out and being replaced by MSMC
| |
Heckler & Koch MP5 | Submachine gun | 9×19mm Parabellum
|
Germany | Used mainly by Police SWAT and CAPFs | |
Brügger & Thomet MP9 | Submachine gun | 9×19mm Parabellum
|
Switzerland | Used mainly by Police SWAT | |
Sten Sub Machine | Submachine gun | 9×19mm Parabellum
|
UK | Being phased out and replaced by MSMC
| |
Modern Sub Machine Carbine
|
Submachine gun | 9×19mm Parabellum
|
India | Replacing all Sten Sub Machine and SAF Carbine 2A1 | |
Assault Rifle/ Battle Rifles | |||||
Ishapore 2A1 rifle | bolt-action | 7.62 NATO
|
India | Being phased out, mainly retain for ceremonial purpose, still employed by Forest Departments | |
315" Sporting Rifle | bolt-action | 8 mm (.315") | India | Mainly employed by Forest Departments | |
12 Bore Double barrel shotgun | Double barrel shotgun
|
12-gauge | India | Mainly employed by Forest Departments | |
SG 552
|
Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm NATO | Switzerland | Being used by Mumbai police's Force One Commando and Punjab Police SWAT Team | |
L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle | Semi-automatic rifle | 7.62×51mm NATO | UK | Being phased out | |
AKM | Assault Rifle | 7.62×39mm | Russia | ||
1B1 INSAS
|
Assault Rifle | 5.56×45mm NATO | India | Mainstay of police force | |
Amogh carbine | Assault Rifle | 5.56×45mm NATO | India | Used by Manipur police and Uttar Pradesh police. | |
Excalibur rifle | Assault Rifle | 5.56×45mm NATO | India | Used by Manipur police,Karnataka police,Assam police and West Bengal police. | |
AK-103 | Assault rifle | 7.62×39mm | Russia | Used by Mizoram Police and Mumbai Police. | |
Colt M4
|
Assault rifle | 5.56 NATO
|
USA | Used by Mizoram Police and Mumbai Police. | |
Light Machine Gun | |||||
GUN MACHINE 7.62MM IA | Light machine Gun | 7.62 x 51 mm NATO | India | Being phased out | |
INSAS LMG | Light machine Gun | 5.56×45mm NATO | India | Being replaced | |
Sniper Rifles | |||||
M107
|
Sniper Rifle | 416 Barrett | USA | Used by Mumbai Police's Force One Commandos | |
PSG1 | Sniper Rifle | 7.62×51mm NATO | Germany | Used by OCTOPUS and Greyhounds |
Mukhbir
Informers (mukhbir) provide information for financial compensation. Police agencies budget for their mukhbirs because they are "the eyes and ears of police", and help resolve cases. In 2012, the Delhi Police budgeted ₹ 40 lakh (₹ 4 million) to pay their mukhbir (₹ 2,000 per inspector).[32]
Public perception
In general, police in India lack public trust and are not viewed as
Scholars usually tend to attribute the police's poor reputation in India to two main factors.
See also
- Sheriffs of India
- Indian Armed Forces
- Judiciary of India
- Indian Penal Code
- Indian criminal law
- Government of India
- Mass surveillance in India
- List of Indian intelligence agencies
- National Counter Terrorism Centre
- Police Complaints Authority (India)
- Indian Police Foundation and Institute
- List of cases of police brutality in India
- Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems
- List of countries and dependencies by number of police officers
References
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- ^ Bibek Debroy. "Lesser-known facts about GRP and RPF". Business Standard. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
- ^ "SIKKIM POLICE - History". sikkimpolice.nic.in. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
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- ^ "Excise Directorate | Govt of West Bengal".
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- ^ "About the Department | Motor Vehicle Department".
- ^ "Introduction | Anti Corruption Bureau | India". Retrieved 21 June 2023.
- ^ "First ever woman chief of SSB retires; Rajni Kant Mishra takes charge". The Economic Times. 14 July 2018. Archived from the original on 10 February 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
- ^ a b "Government allows women to be combat officers in all Central Armed Police Forces". The Economic Times. 11 July 2018. Archived from the original on 24 February 2019. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
- ^ "Women quota in CRPF, CISF to be made 15 per cent". telegraphindia.com. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
- ^ Azad, Shivani (22 October 2019). "Forest guard dies in tiger attack in Corbett, third such death this year in reserve". The Times of India. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- ^ "हिंदी खबर, Latest News in Hindi, हिंदी समाचार, ताजा खबर". Patrika News (in Hindi). 11 November 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- ^ "Meet The Shernis : India's Only Female Forest Guards Stationed at Gir". Cocktail Zindagi. 9 August 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- ^ Tomorrow, India (15 August 2016). "Kerala Police launch patrol vehicles for women's safety". IndiaTomorrow. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ^ "'Amma Patrol' in Chennai launched to ensure safety of women and girls". The News Minute. 27 August 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ^ Desk, Online (10 June 2022). "Stalin flags off 93 new patrol vehicles for Chennai police". DT next. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ^ Daily, Keralakaumudi. "315 new vehicles for state police at a cost of Rs 28 crore; flagged off by Chief Minister". Keralakaumudi Daily. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ^ Delhi cops seek bigger fund to pay informers Archived 19 January 2019 at the Wayback Machine, Hindustan Times, 16 May 2012.
- ^ S2CID 145487010. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
External links
- Media related to Law enforcement in India at Wikimedia Commons