Bhubaneswar, Aug. 8: Only one-sixth of field staff - assistant sub-inspectors, sub-inspectors and inspectors - in police stations here have been issued pistols at a time when petty criminals here have easy access to illegal firearms.

Official sources in the Cuttack-Bhubaneswar Police told The Telegraph that only 41 pistols had been issued to the existing 250-odd ground staff in the city's various police stations. This means only a little higher than 16 per cent of the ground staff are armed.

In contrast, the police have seized 123 illegal firearms between 2014 and 2016 from goons in the city. The corresponding figure between 2012 and 2013 was 43. Twenty-two police stations function within the city, including the mahila, special energy and traffic police stations.

Statistics available with the police revealed as many as 49 cases of firing took place in the city between 2012 and 2016. The cops have also seized 318 rounds of ammunition during this period.

"Police personnel, especially those working with police stations, should keep firearms for their own safety. Though the city has not witnessed in the recent past any incident of goons firing at police personnel, the policemen should possess firearms as a precautionary measure. However most of them are reluctant to keep firearms on the excuse of storage and maintenance," said an inspector.

Retired director-general of police S.N. Tiwary said the police personnel, especially those engaged in field duty, should be equipped with firearms.

"Heinous crimes have become rampant in the city. Police personnel engaged in night patrolling should possess firearms to tackle crimes such as highway robberies. But they should be properly trained to use the firearms," said Tiwary.

On the other hand, the police said they have two specialised wings - the Special Squad and Quick Action Team - which have been formed to conduct raids and they have been provided with pistols.

"As these two units are designed for special drives against criminals and they have maximum chances of face-to-face contact with goons, they have been provided with pistols. Besides, some constables on night patrol in police control room vans have also been equipped with rifles," said a senior police official.

Deputy commissioner of police Satyabrata Bhoi said cops working with the police stations were being issued pistols on temporary basis during important raids.

He said: "In case of any law and order problem, we deploy armed police personnel from reserve. Also, during major events such as cricket matches, we take the help of armed police from the reserve and also issue arms to police personnel drawn from various police stations for that purpose."