There have been accidents with the Indian Army’s main infantry weapon, INSAS Assault Rifles during firing practice. Number of accidents/defects reported in the last three years are as under:

There were only minor injuries in the mishaps reported above.  The details are as follows:-

As per provisions of Special Army Order SAO 2/S/2006, a defect report (DE) is raised by users bringing out the defect noticed by them.  A copy of Defect Report is forwarded to Authority Holding Sealed Particulars (AHSP), MGO branch, HQ TGEME, OFB among others.  On receipt of Defect Report, AHSP conducts investigation in consultation with other agencies to ascertain the causes of accidents.

            Prior to 2003, Indian Army had reported a problem of oil spray in the eyes of the firer.  Based on the feedback, corrective action was taken and the design was modified.  Since then, no adverse feedback has been received.  Besides the remedial and improvement measures suggested by the Defect Investigation Team are intimated to the manufacturer and the user.  Some of the defects/shortcoming noticed are:-

(i)                Improper heat treatment and material; the concerned Ordnance Factories have been advised accordingly.

(ii)              Firing of segregated ammunition lot; Users have been advised.

(iii)            Improper drill by the User; user has been advised and educated by short term courses.

            This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Shri M M Pallam Raju in a written reply to Shri Naveen Jindal in Lok Sabha today.

PK/NK