Kolkata Police improves riot control equipment, forms panel to assess equipment quality

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari visits Kolkata Police Headquarters in Lalbazar, Kolkata. File | Photo credit: PTI

The West Bengal government has launched a comprehensive overhaul of police equipment to handle riot and order in Kolkata, with plans to procure equipment matching the standards used by the Delhi Police, CRPF and other central armed police forces, a senior official said on Friday (May 29, 2026).

The move comes days after eight policemen, including a constable, were injured in stone-pelting during a rally in the Park Circus area on May 18.

The issue was raised again during Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari’s first visit to the Kolkata police headquarters in Lalbazar on May 26, where he met senior police officers.

“The force must have the best available equipment to handle riots and maintain law and order. The Kolkata Police should be equipped with equipment comparable to that used by the Delhi Police, CRPF and other central armed police forces,” a senior official quoted the Chief Minister as saying during the meeting.

Following the directive, an order was issued on 27 May on behalf of the Kolkata Police Commissioner to set up a five-member committee to review the existing equipment of the force and recommend upgrades.

The committee, headed by Joint Commissioner (Modernisation) Nilanjan Biswas, includes Deputy Commissioner of Kolkata Armed Police 6 Battalion Debasish Das and three other officers.

The panel was tasked to examine helmets, batons, shields, body armor, non-lethal weapons, tear gas systems, rubber bullets, dye markers, water cannons, Vajra riot vehicles and other crowd control equipment used by the Delhi Police, CRPF and other central forces.

Officials said the committee will compare these items with the equipment currently in use by the Kolkata Police and submit a detailed report within 15 days. Based on the findings, Lalbazar will take further steps, including procurement of new equipment through electronic tendering.

The state government said there should be no compromise in quality while procuring the upgraded equipment. A senior Lalbazar officer said the existing equipment of the force was not inadequate but acknowledged the need for improvement.

“The riot control equipment we currently have is not of bad quality. However, we are now considering procuring the same standard of equipment used by the Delhi Police, CRPF and other central armed police forces. We especially need better helmets, shields, body armor and tear gas systems,” the officer said.

Published – 29 May 2026 14:27 IST