Nagpur Police Personnel Mandatory to Carry Service Weapons on Duty Following Commissioner’s Directive

In a major administrative move aimed at enhancing field safety and improving tactical readiness, Nagpur Police Commissioner Vishwas Nangre Patil has directed all eligible police personnel across the commissionerate to strictly carry their service firearms while on duty.

The mandatory directive, issued on Thursday, applies to all officers and staff who have been formally allotted service weapons, requiring them to keep their firearms on their person during official assignments and field operations.

Securing Frontline Personnel and Traffic Police

The directive spans across various specialized wings of the force, explicitly including traffic police personnel. Frontline traffic cops frequently face volatile, unpredictable situations during routine vehicle checks, anti-drunk driving campaigns, and late-night enforcement drives.

According to senior police officials, this strategic pivot was prompted by:

• Growing concerns regarding physical attacks on on-duty police personnel.
• The critical need for sharper, faster response capabilities during sudden emergencies and volatile law-and-order disruptions.

Under the new order, equipped officers must carry their officially issued pistols or revolvers as part of their standard daily uniform gear while discharging their duties.

Universal Enforcement Across Cadres

The safety protocol is uniform across the hierarchy. Senior officers—including Senior Police Inspectors (SPIs), Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs), and Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs)—have also been strictly instructed to lead by example and carry their service weapons while out in the field.

Department heads believe this measure will yield two major benefits:

Boosting the morale, security, and tactical preparedness of personnel facing high-risk environments. Acting as a strong psychological deterrent against criminals or aggressive individuals attempting to violently obstruct police work.

Balancing Tactical Readiness with Public Courtesy

This safety enforcement follows closely on the heels of another recent directive by Commissioner Nangre Patil, which focused heavily on police etiquette. Just days prior, the top cop had instructed traffic personnel to maintain strict professional discipline, wear immaculate uniforms, and ensure highly courteous interactions with the general public.

With this latest mandate, the Nagpur Police department has successfully expanded its core focus—balancing professional public engagement and discipline with robust safety measures to protect its personnel on the ground.