Excise Officers to be armed with weapons

KOCHI: As part of strengthening the enforcement activities, the Excise officials  from the rank of inspector and above will be armed with revolvers and pistols. Though the decision was announced in July last, it could not be implemented so far. The revolvers and pistols with bullets will reach the Excise Academy in Thrissur within a few weeks where the officers will be given training to handle the ammunition. The Ammunition factory in Pune will supply the bullets. Around 17,000 bullets will be allotted for pistols and 9,000 for revolvers. “The decision was announced in July last but was pending owing to the official delay. In all, 150 range officers and higher officers will be given training in handling the ammunition. The move was aimed at suppressing the people who are involved in illegal trade of liquor and spirit” an official with the Excise Department said. In 1996, the government had decided to allot 101 revolvers for Excise officers of the rank of DySP and above. In 2009, the government decided to allot 110 pistols for the same category of officers. The Excise Department had bought 110 pistols and 101 revolvers from the Gun and Shell Factory, Kolkata. But these personnel could not use them for lack of bullets.  Excise Minister K Babu said that some of the police officers are sent along with the Excise officials to collect the ammunition. “It is mandatory that the police officials should be present while collecting the ammunition from the factory. The training for the officers will begin next month,” Babu said.