let down: Top cop Hemant Karkare donned a bullet proof jacket minutes after this picture was taken on the night he was killed. But he still died from injuries to his chest

Slain encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar had 59 encounter killings to his credit. He was always in the line of fire, yet, he never wore a bulletproof jacket. It was no different when he was mowed down in Wednesday's terror attacks.

But it wasn't the absence of a bulletproof (BP) vest that killed him. Officers close to him believe, he would have died even if he had worn the vest as they provide no defence against AK-56 and AK-47 gun fire the weapons used by the militants in Mumbai's terror attacks.

"In 2004, samples of these vests were sent for a trial at the firing range of the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF). They were fitted on dummies, [as is the practice] and sprayed with AK-47 bullets and bullets from self-loading rifles (SLR). Every single bullet went through the jackets even though the rounds were fired from a distance," a senior police official revealed, on condition of anonymity.

Sub-standard vests

A report was sent and an inquiry was ordered by the Home Department. The file was returned to the police with a remark "improved consignment will be sent before the next supply". However, MiD DAY has learnt, that despite assurance what was delivered were the sub-standard BP vests.

Salaskar was among the few officers aware that an inquiry was pending against these vests. He is also learnt to have approached the court, through a PIL, questioning the use of these vests. And so, since he never trusted the quality of the vests, he never wore them not once during the 59 encounters he carried on.

Like many others in the force, Additional CP Ashok Kamte and ATS Chief Hemant Karkare had no idea of such a probe. Both died due to SLR bullet injuries the bullets had penetrated their vests.

Another probe

Former IPS officer and now lawyer, Y P Singh, who quit the Mumbai police disgusted by the alleged corruption within, squarely blames what he describes this as a "major cartel run by two or three agents. These agents get products manufactured in cottage industries and supply it to the government.

"Equipment worth more than Rs 100 crore are procured each year under the name of  police modernisation," Singh pointed out.

The Anti Corruption Department (ACB) had received another inquiry from the Home Department related to the procurement of sub-standard bullet proof jackets and 9 mm live rounds and SLR magazines. While the jackets were found weak, the bullets did not fit into the weapons.

It was found that the bullet proof jackets were procured from two unknown manufactures (T K Industry and Samsun). It was cleared by an agent. Inquiries revealed that the jackets did not meet the required specifications and they did not get the clearance of the Defence Research Development Organisation, a statutory body for clearing arms and ammunition.

"I prepared a 100-page report. It never saw the light of the day," said an official of the ACB, who has since resigned. Said ACB DG, S Chakraborty, "I have recently taken over the new post. I cannot comment, but I will look into the matter."

What's wrong?
The Mumbai police have been using armour, which is about 42 inches long. It is supposed to be covered with special cloth and special wire mesh, but the specifications are rarely met.
The steel plates are often corroded resulting in failure to stop with normal masses of 8 grams velocity.
The wire mesh is found to be less than 10 gauge, which often fails when a shotgun fires.
The US services use Type III which can withstand 7.62. 9 mm carbine and even grenade shrapnel. The wire mesh protects from 12 gauge rifle shots.