Mumbai: The bullet-proof jacket worn by
slain Maharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare during the 26/11
attacks was not meant for protection from AK-47 bullets,
police told the Bombay High Court on Wednesday.
The order for such jackets was placed way back in
2001, when the 26/11-like situation was not anticipated, says
an affidavit filed by Deputy Commissioner of Police Vijaysingh
Jadhav.
The jackets were meant for protection from nine mm
pistol and carbine, and "not for AK-47 rifle and 7.62 SLR",
according to the affidavit.
Similar jackets are still used even by the "military
forces", police said.
Karkare, along with fellow IPS officer Ashok Kamte and
Inspector Vijay Salaskar, fell to the bullets fired by
Pakistani gunmen Ajmal Kasab and Abu Ismail from their AK-47
rifles on November 26, 2008.
A PIL filed by Santosh Daundkar, an activist, has
alleged that Karkare died because of sub-standard jackets, and
there was corruption in their purchase.
A total of 110 jackets were actually supplied by
Machinery Sales Corporation and Ganesh Yarntext in 2004,
though the tender was floated in 2001, police said.
"Parameters of the threat perception perceived by
(Mumbai) Crime Branch then could not be equated with the
threat perception which has arisen after November 26
incident," the affidavit by Jadhav said.
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.
Karkare's post-mortem report says he did not die
because of substandard jackets, the affidavit said, adding the
"standard design" of the vest which he wore did not cover the
neck and shoulder.
Petitioner's lawyer YP Singh had argued at earlier
hearing that the senior police officer died because his bullet
-proof jacket left neck and shoulder areas exposed.
Hearing of the PIL will continue next month.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, March 31, 2010, 21:23