HYDERABAD: Checking out highly-sophisticated rifles, home minister Sabitha Indra Reddy spent her time on Wednesday learning about complete details of newly designed weapons for the Octopus commandos.
Participating in the inaugural session of the 54th Police Staff Duty Meet at the Andhra Pradesh Police Academy, the home minister also tried her hand firing two rounds at the shooting competition. She inaugurated the meet by releasing pigeons in the air and also released the souvenir for the meet. The Octopus police displayed many of their latest weapons like the Stayr (SSG) PII, Franchi SPAS-15, Cornest CSM, Taser 26, .177 caliber rifle, Colt 9 mm SHG and other weapons. Sabitha Reddy also asked about the functioning of the weapons from the commandos. V Dinesh Reddy, director-general of police said the meet will help policemen to hone their skills. He recalled about police personnel from the state obtaining various meritorious awards for their performance in the all-India police shooting competition last year. He also made a grant of `50,000 cash for the canine commandos. He hoped the winners in the state meet would perform well in the national-level competitions.
Tejdeep Kaur Menon, additional DGP (Sports) said as many as 350 personnel from 22 ranges of AP Police will take part. The policemen will be judged in scientific aids, investigation, forensic science written test, test in crime investigation, law, rules, procedures, court judgements, finger prints science, photography, portrait, observation, police photography, videography, anti-sabotage check, dog squad and commuter awareness contests. “The winners will participate in the national-level meet. The police shooting team took part in five national shooting competitions last year and won many medals,’’ she added.
The crowd were treated to drill displays by the Canine Commando Force and Amberpet police training staff. Pyramid show, martial arts and passing-out parade also took place on the occasion.
N Sambasiva Rao, director, APPA, Rajiv Trivedi, APPA special director, Ch Dwaraka Tirumala Rao, Cyberabad commissioner of police and other police officials participated.