Students get an insight into police weapons

HYDERABAD: Children often see their favourite heroes brandishing revolvers, pistols and AK-47s in films.On Thursday, some lucky ones finally got an opportunity to lay their hands on one. Not to fire them but just hold them and get first-hand knowledge of how our men in uniform work. There was definite excitement among kids who attended the awareness programme conducted by the Hyderabad police as part of the Police Commemoration Week on Thursday.On display were about 20 kinds of weapons- ranging from the oldest 410 musket, made in 1917, to the latest 7.62 mm A1 rifle and the modern 51 mm motor 1A. The 51mm can bring down 80 men with a single shot.E Vikas, a class X student, was so impressed he decided he must emulate the man whose autograph he sought, police commissioner AK Khan. “After knowing all of this, my aim of becoming an IPS officer has become stronger,” he said with evident determination. “I now understand how the police department, including traffic and clues team work. Not to forget the sniffer dogs,” he added.N Sweta, a class IX student of St Paul’s Hi-tech School said, “Before today, I was clueless about the weapons and police. Now I know what kind of weapons they use and how they work,” she said proudly.Students from about 10 schools attended the programme which was inaugurated by AK Khan. The students had a good time holding the weapons and posing for photographs with them.Needless to say policemen were extremely careful and ensured no gun was loaded. The Police Commemoration Week is observed every year from October 15 to 21. AK Khan said, “In our society, more than 50 per cent percent, including the educated class, do not know how the police department works and how many branches are there within it.It is our responsibility to create awareness among the public,” he said.He further said, “We have also conducted awareness programmes in some city schools. For schoolchildren, we have conducted quiz, elocution and essay writing competitions on police and security. About 3,000 police personnel donated blood and the police department will pay homage to all personnel who died while on duty.”