Experts argue that no jacket is fool-proof. Doctors say the bullets that killed Karkare didn't pierce his vest. Manufacturers say the top cop was wearing it all wrong. Is this why the police force is sitting on a tender for 1,813 new, sturdier vests?
Experts argue that no jacket is fool-proof. Doctors say the bullets that killed Karkare didn't pierce his vest. Manufacturers say the top cop was wearing it all wrong. Is this why the police force is sitting on a tender for 1,813 new, sturdier vests?
The proverb once bitten twice shy doesn't seem applicable for the Mumbai police. Post the 26/11-terror strike, while the home department and senior cops are busy procuring sophisticated weapons to strengthen their armoury, very little is being done to train cops on using the bullet proof vest.
Hemant Karkare's death has raised public outcry and questions on the quality of bulletproof jackets worn by the officer. It has also led to many speculative theories, adding to the recent furore over Karkare's missing jacket.
While some pointed out that the jacket would have saved his life, others blamed its inferior quality for the fact that it could not shield bullets. Jacket manufacturers and security experts say that the one worn by Karkare was not meant to stop hard steel core bullets fired from AK-47s.
'No marks on vest'
Moreover, experts also raised doubts about the manner in which Karkare had worn the jacket, as it exposed most of his upper body.
To corroborate this theory, the autopsy report of Karkare clearly shows that the five bullet wounds were nowhere near the jacket. An expert attached to the department of forensics medicine, Grant Medical College said, "Since the bullet entry wound was from the shoulder area, no bullet marks were on the vest."
ADVERTISEMENT
'He didn't know how to wear it'
Rahul More, a bulletproof manufacturer told Sunday MiD DAY, "Bullet proof vests won't save anyone if the person wearing it doesn't know how to wear it. This is what exactly happened with Karkare. His jacket was hanging with most of his upper body being exposed. The jacket could have only stopped bullets fired from pistols and revolvers from a distance."
More added, "The apathy is that even today, most of our policemen are not trained in wearing a bullet proof vest. Usually during combat operations, the policemen wearing a vest should fight in a particular position, but rarely anyone knows this."
Safety ignored
Mumbai police weren't prepared for terrorists to attack the city with assault rifles. Probably this is why the department took the decision of upgrading their existing bullet-proof jackets lightly.
Rajkumar Durani (name changed), another bulletproof manufacturer, had earlier had a dialogue with Karkare when he was the Joint Commissioner of Police (Administration). Durani had pressed for an upgrade; Karkare had agreed but pointed out that there were administrative and protocol issues against procuring them immediately.
Durani was also allowed to inspect few bulletproof jackets stored in the office building of Protection and Security branch at Vaju Kotak Marg, at CST. Karkare was present with Durani when they examined the vests.
Durani said, "When I saw the jackets, they were mostly 12 to 15 years old and soiled. The moment I picked one of them (weighed over 12 to 15 kgs), the steel plates meant to protect the bullets gave way from the jacket and fell down. I immediately pointed out that these jackets were not foolproof security."
Karkare was later transferred to the Anti-Terrorist Squad and the discussion came to a standstill.
Post 26/11, tenders for vests
On August 10, 2009, the State Police floated tenders, inviting bids from bulletproof manufacturers for 1,813 units of high-end bulletproof vests which could prevent penetration of bullets fired from AK-47s.
Specifications included that the vests be lightweight (around 6 to 6.5 kilogram), cover either side of the armpits and come with 10-year guarantees. Along with samples (each vest cost varies between Rs 45,000 to 50,000), there are testing fees (Rs 60,000), product and tender fees Rs 2,000 and deposit Rs 5,000 (not refunded for years, even after cancellation of the tender).
According to manufacturers, none of their specifications were logical. Apparently only three bulletproof manufactures from Bangalore, Kanpur and Delhi responded to the tender.u00a0 Samples from each from these units were sent to the Terminal Ballistic Research Laboratory (TBRL), Chandigarh, where sources claim that the test results, received last month, were negative.
Additional Director General of Police (Planning and Coordination) Subhash Awate confirmed to Sunday MiD DAY that the samples did fail the testing process. He clarified, "No jacket can be called as a bulletproof one,
because a bullet fired from a point blank range can easily penetrate a human body, immaterial whether the target is wearing a jacket or not. These jackets are only meant to prevent penetration of bullets fired from a distance of 10 meter and above."
Major loopholes
Experts say that the irony is that the people involved in making the tender specifications are not aware of the technology themselves. They don't know the velocity difference in a bullet fired from a pistol and AK-47.
Usually the staff collects catalogues, extract the specifications and merge them to their requirement.
Another loophole is that ever since 26/11, senior IPS officers are wary of government wrath in case their decision on the vests are wrong. This, say manufacturers, has slowed down the decision-making process even further.
Awate has rubbished the accusations, stating that they follow specifications laid by the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), Delhi. 
How Hemant Karkare died in spite of wearing a bulletproof jacket
The autopsy report of Karkare clearly shows that a total of five bullets wounds on shoulder blade top region between neck and right shoulder, of which four entry wounds are in one line with dimensions of 1.2,1.2, 1.5 and 1.5 cms and the fifth one just behind these injuries of dimension 2 cms. 
Three bullets found their way out from the right chest and right shoulder, while two other bullets rested in his body damaging vital organs leading to his death.
The manner in which Karkare had worn the jacket,exposed most of his upper body
Experts say that the jacket worn by Karkare was not meant to stop hard steel core bullets that are fired from AK-47.
Rs 45,000-50,000u00a0
Approx cost of each new vest that the police force now needs
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
