Lokesh Machines Ltd, a Hyderabad-based small arms manufacturing company, has secured an order for 550 ASMI submachine guns (SMGs) worth Rs 4.2 crore from the Northern Command of the Indian Army.

The company has already delivered pilot lots of 10 guns each to the National Security Force (NSG), Assam Rifles, and the Border Security Force (BSF).

The Army order has to be fulfilled by September 28.

ASMI is the first indigenously designed, developed, and manufactured weapon to be inducted into the Indian Army. Its main advantage is its suitability for local ammunition and imported NATO standard ones.

The firm, which received the basic design from ARDE, Pune, and the Army, developed it further and manufactured it at its 12,000 units per annum factory at Toopran.

The ASMI weighs under 2.4 kg, making it 10-15% lighter than international competitors and nearly 30% cheaper.

"A major breakthrough has been achieved in the case pertaining to the terrorist attack on the pilgrim bus which was coming from Shiv Khori on 9th June. In this, one terror associate, namely Hakimdin 45 years has been arrested by J&K Police at Reasi. This person was involved in harbouring the terrorists multiple times. Along with providing food and shelter, the said person also acted as a guide and helped them reach the spot of the incident. The arrested person is a prime militant associate who helped the terrorists in the execution of the attack. Further interrogation and investigation of the case is going on" : SSP Reasi Mohita Sharma