Bullet proof: AP next to Kashmir

By U Sudhakar Reddy
Hyderabad, April 4: Andhra Pradesh has the largest number of bullet-proof cars in the country after Jammu and Kashmir. The Police Transport Organisation uses at least 200 bullet-proof cars for the protection of the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, his Cabinet colleagues and other VIPs. Following intelligence reports that Maoists may try to target the Chief Minister while he is in Delhi or when he tours the districts, police has also started using bullet-proof cars in these places.
Bullet-proof cars are now being used in Chittoor, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam and other key areas when Dr Reddy is on a visit. The PTO recently bought 30 new bullet-proof Scorpios from Mahindra and Mahindra and handed them over to the Intelligence Security Wing. Top police officers said that the heightened security measures were necessary since the state faced both jihadi and Maoist threats. The police nowadays purchases bullet-proof cars directly from automobile companies and private fabricators in the city rather than the ordnance factory at Medak. Ambassador cars are no longer in fashion and police prefers Safaris and Tata Sumos.
“There are three kinds of bullet-proof cars,” said a senior police officer. “One can withstand revolver shots while others can withstand all automatic weapons. Their tyres can also take bullets.” Meanwhile, the police is also planning to set up more “anti-fidayeen” spike systems near main gates of key installations to prevent terrorists from driving in with explosives-laden vehicles.
“They are already installed at the office of the Director General of Police and the State Secretariat,” said the senior policeman. Intelligence agencies had learnt recently that terrorists had planned to ram an explosives-laden car into the DGP’s office. “This can happen anywhere,” said the officer. “So we will be installing them in all major offices. The spikes will damage all four wheels of a speeding vehicle.”

(Published in Deccan Chronicle on April 6 2008)