<p>Not only their weapons like .303 rifles were outmatched by the AK-47 assault rifles, the bullet-proof jackets worn by many of the police officers were just not meant to withstand the barrage from those deadly rifles.<br /><br />Indeed, those bullet-proof jackets could not save the then Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare, additional commissioner of police Ashok Kamte and inspector Vijay Salaskar, when they were ambushed by two terrorists Ajmal Kasab and Abu Ismail in Cama Hospital lane.<br /><br />Good for pistols<br />The bullet-proof jackets had been ordered by the Maharashtra government way back in 2001 and could withstand bullets fired only from 9 mm pistols and carbines. <br /><br />These shocking admissions were made in an affidavit filed by Deputy Commissioner of Police Vijaysingh Jadhav on behalf of the Maharashtra government in the Bombay High Court on Wednesday, the day when a special court concluded hearing arguments in that 26/11 terror attacks.<br /><br />Similar jackets, which are not meant to withstand fire from AK47 or and SLR, are used even by the “military forces”, the affidavit said. <br /><br />It is no wonder that the Pradhan committee appointed by the state government had stated that 26/11 terror attack was like a war and no police force, including that of Mumbai, had a chance to fight.<br /><br />The state government told the High Court in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) that the jackets used during 26/11 were ordered in a time when the “threat perception” for the metropolis had not taken into account an attack that would include simultaneous strikes and civilians held as hostages.<br /><br />More pertinently, whether the jackets were of standard or no, it could not have saved Karkare because the officer sustained injuries to his shoulder and neck, which were not covered by the jacket of standard design, the affidavit pointed out.<br /><br />Karkare was racing towards Cama Hospital along with Kamte and Salaskar, to confront Kasab and Ismail, who had moved inside Cama hospital after mowing down 60 people in Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST).<br /><br />As Karkare approached the nursing home, he thought he saw something moving in the bushes, and slowed down. Seconds later, he was staring at the two terrorists. A hell of bullets came, and the officers were injured. Later, all three died.<br /><br />When the officers were taken to hospital, Karkare’s jacket disappeared. His wife Kavita asked in a public crusade and in a Right to Information application for an explanation of where and how it had been lost.<br /><br />A PIL filed in the HC by a Mumbai activist Santosh Daundkar alleged that the jacket worn by Karkare was among 110 defective jackets bought by the Mumbai police. The PIL also alleged corruption in purchase of jackets.<br /><br />110 jackets<br />A total of 110 jackets were actually supplied by Machinery Sales Corporation and Ganesh Yarntext in 2004, though the tender was floated in 2001, the government affidavit said.<br />The petitioner may criticise the choice of vests "with the benefit of hindsight" but "none had anticipated in March 2001 that a situation like November 26 will arise," it said.</p>
<p>Not only their weapons like .303 rifles were outmatched by the AK-47 assault rifles, the bullet-proof jackets worn by many of the police officers were just not meant to withstand the barrage from those deadly rifles.<br /><br />Indeed, those bullet-proof jackets could not save the then Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare, additional commissioner of police Ashok Kamte and inspector Vijay Salaskar, when they were ambushed by two terrorists Ajmal Kasab and Abu Ismail in Cama Hospital lane.<br /><br />Good for pistols<br />The bullet-proof jackets had been ordered by the Maharashtra government way back in 2001 and could withstand bullets fired only from 9 mm pistols and carbines. <br /><br />These shocking admissions were made in an affidavit filed by Deputy Commissioner of Police Vijaysingh Jadhav on behalf of the Maharashtra government in the Bombay High Court on Wednesday, the day when a special court concluded hearing arguments in that 26/11 terror attacks.<br /><br />Similar jackets, which are not meant to withstand fire from AK47 or and SLR, are used even by the “military forces”, the affidavit said. <br /><br />It is no wonder that the Pradhan committee appointed by the state government had stated that 26/11 terror attack was like a war and no police force, including that of Mumbai, had a chance to fight.<br /><br />The state government told the High Court in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) that the jackets used during 26/11 were ordered in a time when the “threat perception” for the metropolis had not taken into account an attack that would include simultaneous strikes and civilians held as hostages.<br /><br />More pertinently, whether the jackets were of standard or no, it could not have saved Karkare because the officer sustained injuries to his shoulder and neck, which were not covered by the jacket of standard design, the affidavit pointed out.<br /><br />Karkare was racing towards Cama Hospital along with Kamte and Salaskar, to confront Kasab and Ismail, who had moved inside Cama hospital after mowing down 60 people in Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST).<br /><br />As Karkare approached the nursing home, he thought he saw something moving in the bushes, and slowed down. Seconds later, he was staring at the two terrorists. A hell of bullets came, and the officers were injured. Later, all three died.<br /><br />When the officers were taken to hospital, Karkare’s jacket disappeared. His wife Kavita asked in a public crusade and in a Right to Information application for an explanation of where and how it had been lost.<br /><br />A PIL filed in the HC by a Mumbai activist Santosh Daundkar alleged that the jacket worn by Karkare was among 110 defective jackets bought by the Mumbai police. The PIL also alleged corruption in purchase of jackets.<br /><br />110 jackets<br />A total of 110 jackets were actually supplied by Machinery Sales Corporation and Ganesh Yarntext in 2004, though the tender was floated in 2001, the government affidavit said.<br />The petitioner may criticise the choice of vests "with the benefit of hindsight" but "none had anticipated in March 2001 that a situation like November 26 will arise," it said.</p>
