LUCKNOW, April 2 -- The armory of UP Police will be strengthened further as the state government has approved the purchase of huge cache of arms, ammunitions, and other auxiliary gadgets worth Rs 83.77 crore, confirmed senior government officials on Tuesday. They said the state police force will soon be equipped with combat shot guns, 9mm pistols, 5.56 mm rifle carbines, assault rifles, sub-machine guns, pump action guns, and advanced auxiliary gadgets such thermal weapon sight for sniper rifles, magazines for Glock 33 pistols and huge cache of ammunitions for practice as well as for field operations. The officials confirmed that the state government issued 18 approvals on March 29, 30, and 31 to the police for the purchase. HT has accessed the approval orders that were uploaded on a government portal. Additional director general (ADG)-Law and Order Amitabh Yash said the approvals will enhance the firepower of UP Police to counter gangsters, dreaded criminals and terror operations. He said most of the purchases would be made by the Special Task Force as it was specialised in handling arms and ammunitions. The list included 20 combat shot guns worth Rs 19.60 lakh, 3,000 9 mm pistols worth Rs 8.37 crore, 4,000 5.56 mm rifle carbines worth Rs 48.40 crore, 405 assault rifles worth Rs 3.37 crore, 300 9 mm sub-machine guns worth Rs 2.22 crore and 300 pump action guns worth Rs 63 lakh. Additionally, 405 assault rifles worth Rs 3.37 crores will be bought for the Special Security Force (SSF) that was formed on the lines of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to guard airports and other industrial units in the state. Moreover, several auxiliary accessories that will be bought include 50 Glock 33 pistol magazines worth over Rs 3.18 lakh and three thermal weapon sights for sniper rifles worth Rs 18 lakh. Besides, 16 lakh 7.62 mm SLR ball cartridges worth Rs 9.21 crore, three lakh 7.62mm ball cartridges worth Rs 1.39 crore, 10 lakh AK-47 ball cartridges worth Rs 4.5 crore, 4.4 lakh 5.56 mm ball cartridges worth Rs1.58 crore, 16 lakh 9X19 ball cartridges worth Rs 3.99 crore, one lakh 5.56 mm blank cartridges worth Rs 53.9 lakh, 1,01,253 cartridges of 0.38 bore revolver ball worth Rs 83.02 lakh and 8,000 cartridges of 8.6X70 mm ball worth Rs 39.12 lakh will also be bought...