No paramilitary or police force in the country can purchase any bulletproof equipment unless the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) certifies them,the Ministry of Home Affairs recently said. Based on the MHAs instructions,the CFSL has recently started a bulletproof testing laboratory in its complex at Sector 36,Chandigarh. Earlier,the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) of the (DRDO) in conducted the tests. As per the instructions,while the Army related bulletproof equipment will be tested by TBRL; equipment for paramilitary forces including BSF,CISF,SSB,CRPF,ITBP and all police forces will be tested by CFSL. Sources disclosed the decision in this regard was taken in principle during the Union Home Minister P Chidambaram's visit to CFSL in September last year. The official nod was sent last month. The equipment,which would be tested at CFSL,include bulletproof jackets; steel sheets used in bulletproof vehicles; bulletproof glasses,helmets and bulletproof bunkers. According to officials at CFSL,at present they can test only one bulletproof jacket a day adding that another underground testing lab will be constructed soon and that would enhance their efficiency. Funds have been sanctioned for the new improvised laboratory,which is going to be constructed in the basement of the same complex. At present,the equipment we are using to test bulletproof equipment is indigenous,we do not have enough resources and time to import it, said Dr S K Shukla,Director,CFSL,Chandigarh. A team of 10 scientists and shooting staff is at present conducting the tests. A bulletproof jacket,before given an OK certificate,has to go through tough trauma tests. Around 15-20 shots are fired at a jacket,before certifying it. While five shots from different weapons including AK-47,.9mm,.762 mm,carbines,SLRs etc. are fired at the front and back of the jacket; the same amount of shots are fired after submerging the jacket in water for 30 minutes. This particular test is called Wet Test. Shots are also fired from 30,45 and 60 degrees at the jacket to ascertain the trauma impact on the body wearing the jacket. Once we measure the trauma impact and consider it within the safe-range,we certify the equipment for purchase, Dr Shukla said,adding that recently two bulletproof jacket samples were rejected after they failed test.
