G20 Summit: Security strengthened as Delhi Police acquires Russian Dragunov sniper rifles and deploys skilled marksmen at key locations

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

G20 Summit, the Delhi Police is acquiring Russian Dragunov sniper rifles, a move aimed at boosting security measures, said undisclosed sources in an interview with TOI. Skilled marksmen armed with these rifles will be strategically positioned atop high-end hotels in central Delhi, Aerocity, and other crucial spots across the city. Although senior officers have chosen to keep mum on the matter, reliable police insiders suggest that instead of purchasing these rifles outright, the police force might secure them on loan from either the army or paramilitary units.

A basic Dragunov SVD rifle comes at a price of Rs 2-3 lakh, with costs potentially reaching Rs 5 lakh depending on preferred accessories. For the limited duration of the G20 Summit, Delhi Police anticipates the need for 70-100 rifles, as confirmed by insiders to TOI. Within the same TOI news report, sources at the Police Headquarters reveal that approximately 250 trained marksmen are ready for G20 duty.

These professionals will work in shifts of eight hours each, and a pool of over two dozen marksmen will be on standby. The choice of the Dragunov sniper rifle was not for its peak performance, but rather for its dependability and simplicity, explains an investigator familiar with the situation. The Dragunov is proficient at ranges of 700-800 meters, a capability deemed adequate by city police for use during the global summit scheduled for September.

The Russian Dragunov sniper rifle is renowned for its accuracy and long-range capability. It uses a powerful 7.62x54mmR cartridge that can penetrate body armor and soft targets at long ranges. To provide increased protection, expert marksmen armed with Dragunov rifles will be stationed atop high-end hotels in downtown