Kolkata Police sets up expert team, to take anti-riot gear tips from central forces

Kolkata: Kolkata Police has set up a five-member expert committee to overhaul its anti-rioting infrastructure.

Formed under the directive of police commissioner Ajay Nanda, the panel will evaluate advanced crowd-control gear, used by the Delhi Police and CAPFs, to upgrade the local armoury. The committee, chaired by joint commissioner of police (modernisation) Nilanjan Biswas, includes DCP (6th Battalion, KAP) Debasis Das and three inspectors. The members will have to submit an item-wise comparative analysis, evaluating local gear against external standards within 15 days.

The assessment will scrutinise standard equipment, such as lathi, shields and body protectors, along with non-lethal weapons, tear smoke munitions (TSM), rubber bullets and dye-marking shells. Vehicle-mounted crowd-control systems, including water cannons and VAJRA tactical vehicles, are also under review.

As part of this transition, the department plans to induct electric-shock batons, designed to temporarily incapacitate aggressive rioters with the help of a mild electrical charge of peak voltage delivery of 1.5 kilovolts, lasting a maximum of one millisecond. To mitigate potential safety hazards, the bid document strictly stipulates that these advanced batons will be reserved for specialised forces and deployed only under specific provocations, rather than routine law-and-order duties.

According to officers, the existing ballistic helmets only shield the face and head against close-range blunt force from sticks, failing against projectiles though most injuries are usually caused by stones hurled at them by mobs. Furthermore, frontline personnel complain that the current body protectors are archaic, they leave the sides of their torso vulnerable and they are too bulky to allow running during chases.

While Kolkata Police previously phased out traditional wooden sticks in favour of polycarbonate canes and shields, budget constraints and resource limitations have long stalled further technological adaptation. Consequently, the force relies on the earlier body armours, rudimentary knee and elbow pads and even cricket helmets during large-scale deployments that demand a high number of personnel on the ground. This new move is expected to bridge these defensive vulnerabilities with modern, agile protection.