Imphal, December 05 2009: As first of its kind in the entire country, the state police personnel will be equipped with state-of-the-art German made MP-5 semi-automatic rifles with funding from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs under police modernisation project, a highly placed police source said.

In an attempt to clear the presence of the militants from Loktak Lake area permanently, three US made Hover Guard-1000s are also expected to reach the state within March 2010, the source said.

The source disclosed that Rs 6.5 crore has been sanctioned by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs last year under police modernisation.

The amount is said to be in the account of the state government.

The sanctioned amount will be used in procuring US made MP-5 Semi Automatic Rifles.

Since it is necessary for the intervention of Home Ministry in procuring arms from other countries, the ministry concerned has been entrusted for the procurement of the arms.

The same could have been acquired earlier.

As the Centre is overlooking the procurement of the arms, the state government would do for itself.

The MP5 is a 9mm submachine gun of German design, developed in the 1960s by a team of engineers from the German small arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch GmbH (H&K) of Oberndorf am Neckar.

It has smaller size too.

The gun is mostly used by security personnel guarding VIPs.

However, the same would be used in the state only when operations are conducted, it said.

1,000 MP-5 Semi-Automatic rifles will be purchased.

The source added that the weapons would be allotted to commando units of the police as soon as the weapons reached Imphal.

The source further informed that tender process for the procurement of three US-made Hover Guards is almost done.

The procurement of the Hover Guard has been delayed due to non-response from firms outside the state to the tender.

Now, a firm from outside the country has responded to the tender.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has also sanctioned Rs 5.25 crore under police modernisation project for the procurement of three Hover Guard-1000s.A committee has been constituted to study the feasibility of using the Hover Guard in Loktak Lake.

Following the recommendation of the committee that the use of the Hover Guard would be more helpful in launching operation on Phumdis in Loktak Lake, the process for the procurement of the weapon is initiated, the police source said.

The committee which studied the feasibility of the use of the weapon comprises experts from the BSF, Coast Guards and IG (Intelligence), LM Khaute.

The committee had conducted a field study.

The source further said, at least 7 personnel can take seats in a hover guard.

The Hover Guard would not be handed over to the Manipur Police Commandos.

According to a government decision to set up Loktak Protection Force, the Hover Guard would be handed over to the Loktak Protection Force.

270 posts will be created for the LPF.

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