KATHMANDU: The government has decided to procure weapons at a time when the security personnel deployed in the field to enforce lockdown have been deprived of even masks, hand gloves and sanitizers.

The police headquarters has taken the process forward regarding the procurement of weapons and other materials required to control the crowd following the approval by the Council of Ministers.

According to sources, the police headquarters is making assessment of the amount required to procure water cannons, 9 mm pistols and shotguns.

An approval from the Council of Ministers is mandatory for the procurement of security related materials.

The decision to procure weapons at a time when the country is on the verge of economic collapse has been taken as something inappropriate and motivated by corrupt intent.

Social networking sites have been awash with allegations that the government took this decision to award contract to the businessmen for commission.

Currently, there are no toilets in 760 police posts in the country which has been declared defecation free zone while security personnel are compelled to sleep on the cold floor in the absence of the implementation of ‘one police man one bed’ policy.

This decision to procure weapons has courted criticisms saying that the security personnel are forced to carry out their duties without hand gloves, masks and sanitizers during the Coronavirus pandemic.

The Commission for Investigation for Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has been investigating the irregularities in the procurement of water cannons.