BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: PRE-LICENSE END-USE CHECK ON LICENSE

UNCLAS NEW DELHI 002761 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KOMC IN SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: PRE-LICENSE END-USE CHECK ON LICENSE 050125018 REF: STATE 105281 ¶1. (SBU) AMEMBASSY New Delhi is transmitting this cable on behalf of AMCONSUL Kolkata. Per REFTEL the purchase order (Letter No. 1143/T&S) under license number 050125018 was placed by the Director General and Inspector General of Police Jharkhand and have associated papers. AMEMBASSY New Delhi has verified the order and intended end-use of the listed commodity. ¶2. (SBU) On 20 October, 2008, AMEMBASSY New Delhi spoke by telephone with S.N. Pradhan, of the Director General of the Inspector General of Police Jharkhand, Modernization and Provisions. AMEMBASSY New Delhi verified that Mr. Pradhan signed the purchase order for 500 Sig Pistols. Mr. Pradhan's telephone contact information is +9431108865, or 0651-2400722. ¶3. (SBU) Mr. Pradhan confirmed that the pistols are for the exclusive use of the Jharkhand police force. Pradhan expanded that the police force's special units will use the pistols which are required for the rise in regional security problems and to fight insurgencies. Mr. Pradhan also commented that the weapons are necessary for the expanding police force, which has grown from 18,000 personnel in 2002 to its current force of nearly 55,000 personnel. ¶4. (SBU) Mr. Pradhan told AMEMBASSY New Delhi that the pistols, when not in use by officers, would be stored in the central weapons stores at the police headquarters in Ranchi. Mr. Pradhan described the store to be a well-fortified walled structure that is guarded 24/7 with watch towers and extensive lighting. ¶5. (SBU) AMEMBASSY New Delhi inquired as to the denial by the Government of Germany of export for the pistols. Mr. Pradhan responded that he had heard that the Government of Germany denied the Jharkhand Police application because of EU policy against the export of weapons to Indian police on the whole. He mentioned that another application for equipment other than weapons is also pending (I would leave this out unless you know what the equipment or the seller is-I can explain separately). ¶6. (SBU) AMEMBASSY recommends that this case be closed as favorable on the basis that the Director General and Inspector General of the Jharkhand Police did request the listed commodity and it appears the end use is as stated, for the exclusive use of the Jharkhand Police. WHITE