712. Escorts for arms and ammunition. [§ 12, Act V, 1861].
(a)Superintendent indenting for arms or ammunition shall provide an armed escort to take delivery at the Arsenal on being notified by the military authorities of the date on which their requirements will be ready for issue. In the case of consignments of arms and ammunition at the Fort William Arsenal intended for districts outside Bengal, the Superintendent, 24-Parganas, shall, on being informed by the military authorities, furnish the necessary escorts. He shall at the same time give timely notice to the Superintendents of the relieving districts concerned of the date, train and strength of escorts. In the case of consignments at the Allahabad Arsenal the Superintendent of Police, Allahabad, will be responsible for taking them over and for supplying an escort. He will at the same time give timely notice to the Superintendents of the relieving districts concerned of the date, train and strength of escort.(b)The normal escort will consist of 1 head constable and 6 constables but shall never be less than 1 head constable and 3 constables. The escort commander should be given written authority to take delivery of the arms or ammunition and should be instructed that if circumstances necessitate it there should be no hesitation in using his escorts' weapons to protect his charge and to ensure the safety of the consignment from capture.(c)Similar arrangements should be made mutatis mutandis in taking delivery of revolvers or revolver ammunition from private firms. Superintendents shall in such cases use their own discretion regarding the strength of the escort required to ensure safe delivery.
