Ahmedabad RPF gets bomb squad
A five-member unit, equipped with high-tech gadgets to detect explosive, formed to counter bomb scare at rly station
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Saturday, October 15, 2011 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/3/20111015201110150236479657b8cf41a/Ahmedabad-RPF-gets-bomb-squad.html)
To effectively tackle bomb scare and help in preventing terror strikes at Ahmedabad railway station, a five-member bomb squad, equipped with the latest gadgets, has been formed by Railway Protection Force (RPF). The full-fledged squad will not only detect threat quickly but also reduce the dependence on the police bomb detection and disposal squad. The initiative is the railways’ attempt to provide security to sensitive and vulnerable stations in the country.
“RPF Ahmedabad is now well-equipped to tackle any threat. The squad members have been given three-month rigorous training by National Security Guards (NSG). Whenever there is a bomb scare at the station, it leads to commotion until the bomb squad arrives. But with our own squad now, we can immediately take charge of the situation as time is crucial in such situations,” said Sumiti Sandilya, RPF divisional security commissioner, Ahmedabad.
Approval came last year
Sandilya said the nod for the constitution of bomb squad and sourcing its equipments had come last year. “But the procedure of selecting efficient crew and arrangement for their training took time. The unit has DSMD (deep search metal detector), electronic stethoscope, vapour tracers and other latest gadgets to track explosives,” he added. Railway stations are soft terror targets and discovery of huge cache of RDX outside Ambala Cantonment railway station on Thursday has led to the need to strengthen the stations.
“We have well-trained sniffer dogs which can search explosives but addition of bomb squad has improved our strength and efficiency to thwart any terror plot,” Sandilya said. The unit will also cater to surrounding railways stations. “The squad members will be given training at regular intervals to upgrade their knowledge on the handling of latest technology-based equipment. We will also add more eqipment. This will make our bomb squad more efficient,” the official added. NSG and CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) conduct training for the bomb disposal squad, he said. Currently, 17 CCTV cameras are installed at the station. But by the end of the year, it will have 40 better quality cameras at strategic locations at the station.
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Saturday, October 15, 2011 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/3/20111015201110150236479657b8cf41a/Ahmedabad-RPF-gets-bomb-squad.html)
To effectively tackle bomb scare and help in preventing terror strikes at Ahmedabad railway station, a five-member bomb squad, equipped with the latest gadgets, has been formed by Railway Protection Force (RPF). The full-fledged squad will not only detect threat quickly but also reduce the dependence on the police bomb detection and disposal squad. The initiative is the railways’ attempt to provide security to sensitive and vulnerable stations in the country.
“RPF Ahmedabad is now well-equipped to tackle any threat. The squad members have been given three-month rigorous training by National Security Guards (NSG). Whenever there is a bomb scare at the station, it leads to commotion until the bomb squad arrives. But with our own squad now, we can immediately take charge of the situation as time is crucial in such situations,” said Sumiti Sandilya, RPF divisional security commissioner, Ahmedabad.
Approval came last year
Sandilya said the nod for the constitution of bomb squad and sourcing its equipments had come last year. “But the procedure of selecting efficient crew and arrangement for their training took time. The unit has DSMD (deep search metal detector), electronic stethoscope, vapour tracers and other latest gadgets to track explosives,” he added. Railway stations are soft terror targets and discovery of huge cache of RDX outside Ambala Cantonment railway station on Thursday has led to the need to strengthen the stations.
“We have well-trained sniffer dogs which can search explosives but addition of bomb squad has improved our strength and efficiency to thwart any terror plot,” Sandilya said. The unit will also cater to surrounding railways stations. “The squad members will be given training at regular intervals to upgrade their knowledge on the handling of latest technology-based equipment. We will also add more eqipment. This will make our bomb squad more efficient,” the official added. NSG and CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) conduct training for the bomb disposal squad, he said. Currently, 17 CCTV cameras are installed at the station. But by the end of the year, it will have 40 better quality cameras at strategic locations at the station.
