Simulator guns for police drill

National Green Tribunal (NGT)’s order to close down the firing range of 25th battalion on the outskirt of Bhopal has forced the security forces based at the capital city to look for an alternative in firearm simulator to practice shooting.

However, the proposed alternative measure may affect shooting skill of the strategic forces in both civil and para-military forces in the long run, a section of police officers here apprehended. “Firearm simulator cannot be a perfect replacement of outdoor shooting practice in which the shooters gain experience of hitting their targets under certain environmental conditions. Firearm simulator practice is done in a room”, a senior police officer said.

“It may prove fatal for policemen in emergency cases if their shooting skill is affected due to lack of practice. Police personnel need to practice shooting at least once in a month”, a former director general of police (DGP) of Madhya Pradesh said. The NGT ordered closure of firing range of 25th battalion following a petition alleging that it had an adverse impact on the wild animals of Van Vihar, a forest patch close to the firing range.