NEW DELHI — Khaki-clad Delhi Police will soon be armed with plastic batons, in line with the gear used by security forces in many European countries.
Made of polycarbonate, the 40-inch batons are easy to hold and swing, and they may do less damage than the bamboo lathi that most Delhi police currently use.
"The bamboo lathis were much [more] lethal and caused serious injuries to the mob. These plastic batons would hurt less, and since its weight is lighter, [the] cop can swing it more efficiently," one police official said.
The new batons were first introduced in the Delhi Armed Police battalions and in some key areas in New Delhi that see many protest demonstrations. They will soon be introduced in all 180 police stations in the Indian capital.