In a move to embolden the police force in the city, Police Commissioner M A Saleem has made it mandatory for the officers to carry arms.
As a result, officials in the ranks of sub-inspector and inspector are now seen carrying arms in their holster while on duty.
The Commissioner told Deccan Herald that arms were a part of the uniform, but most personnel were not in the habit of carrying it.
The officials of the afore said cadres - 16 inspectors and 35 sub-inspectors have been instructed to abide by the existing rule of carrying .38 revolver or nine mm pistol allotted according to the availability.
Likewise, police personnel on night patrolling have to equip themselves with rifles. ACPs, considered supervisory officers, have been omitted from the diktat (it doesn’t mean they should not carry the arms, but are bound to do so depending on the situations). However, traffic police do not fall in the list.
Barring situations like that of protests, tense situations, conventions and VIP movements, the officials were not used carrying the weapon otherwise.
Now, after the enforcement of the rule, the officials will have to face disciplinary action, if they abstain from doing so. Even if they are on leave, it is their responsibility to keep the arms in safety.
Safety
Moreover, when the men in khaki are bound to protect the public, they have to be in a position of safeguarding others. In case anybody attacks innocent public or even the official himself or herself, they can act on their own volition by opening fire, the Commissioner added.
In the last three months, 12 chain snatching cases have been reported and 37 have been detected (including the previous cases), besides cases of vehicle thefts.