CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Police has for the first time captured an antiaircraft gun from a village in one of the border districts. The gun of Russian make called the mass strafing equipment (MSE) is not a modem weapon System but it was used quite effectively by the Afghan Mujahideen against the Soviet aircraft and gunships.
The long range gun, which requires at least two or three persons to handle it, is able to down an approaching aircraft with its sheer rapidity of fire. Its high calibre ammunition is armour piercing and can be used against other moving targets too. Punjab Police Director General, KP.S.Gill confirmed the seizure of the ack ack gun a few days ago.
The recovery is also significant because it has been made from a militant, Marandi Singh, who had surrendered in May this year. He had surrendered amidst much fanfare at Mehta Chowk along with a Thomson gun. However, he did not own up the ack ack gun then. It was only later when he was ‘picked up’ by the police for again that he produced some other weapons, including the MSE.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 12, 1993
