Uttar Pradesh government is going to equip state Special Security Force, that is, UPSSF with modern weapons. For this, administrative and financial approval of more than Rs 23 crore has been given by the government.
The sanctioned amount will be used for purchasing semi-automatic pistols, sub machine guns, assault rifles and other weapons and equipment for UP SSF, officials here on Monday said.
According to the government order issued on March 14 last, administrative and financial approval of Rs 23,049,975 crore (Rs twenty three crore four lakh ninety nine thousand seven hundred fifty) has been issued for the purchase of these weapons and equipment for the UPSSF.
Along with this, instructions have been given that the purchase of equipment/services from the sanctioned amount should be ensured by March 31, 2024. If any amount is left, it should be surrendered to the treasury. No other equipment/services can be purchased from the remaining amount.
The arms and equipment to be purchased from the released funds include 465 automatic pistols, 1113 sub machine guns, 330 assault rifles, 500 BR jackets, 500 BR helmets, 1714 polycarbonate shields and 2025 polycarbonate batons. It has been directed that all weapons and equipment should be of quality and useful.
The order clearly says that the purchase should be ensured only after Uttar Pradesh Police Headquarters is satisfied with the departmental arrangements regarding the make/model/specification and number of the proposed equipment in view of the functional requirement.
Recently, it was decided by the UP government to establish the sixth battalion of Uttar Pradesh Special Security Force (UPSSF) in Ayodhya.
UPSSF was formed in September 2020 to protect the courts, major religious places and establishments of the state. As a result, five battalions of UPSSF were formed in June 2021, which include the battalions of Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Prayagraj, Mathura and Saharanpur. The first battalion of UPSSF is also deployed in the security of Metro in Lucknow.