Indian forces facing 75% shortage in 9mm ammo
Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2016 4:11 pm
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/ ... e-2890466/
75% shortage in 9 mm bullets, paramilitary forces run on empty
An alarmed ministry has now asked the forces to import bullets through a global tender for immediate needs.
Written by Deeptiman Tiwary | New Delhi | Updated: July 3, 2016 1:31 pm
The nine-lakh strong paramilitary forces guarding India’s borders, fighting Maoists in jungles, and responding to situations such as the Pathankot terror attack face a massive shortage of ammunition for their weapons.
The scarcity of 9 mm bullets — the primary ammunition used by these forces in close combat — has meant there aren’t enough available for firing practice, and rationed supplies for actual combat.
According to figures available with The Sunday Express, the shortfall of 9 mm bullets in 2016-17 is likely to be over 75% — against a demand of 9.3 crore bullets for paramilitary and state police forces, the Ordnance Factories Board (OFB) has agreed to supply only 2.3 crore.