Equipment with Chandigarh Police

The Chandigarh Police’s anti-sabotage squad purchased its bomb-detection equipment in 1996, which included three ‘hi-tech’ machines viz Explosives Vapour Detector (EVD)-3000, a Deep Search machine and a Super Broom (non-linear junction detector) to detect bombs and explosives in the city. These are the resources the Chandigarh Police use to prevent any untoward/terrorist incident in the city.

Explosives Vapour Detector-3000 is used to detect explosive material hidden in any place. EVD-3000 is one of the most trusted equipment presently in use by various security forces in the region.

Deep Search machine- A machine used to detect hidden metallic objects in the ground. The machine is basically used to detect land mines or underground explosives.

Super Broom- The device is used to detect remote-operated devices, which is triggered on with the help of a junction or detector.

A Labrador- An 8-yr-old sniffer dog Rana, trained exclusively to detect explosives, is someone whose sniffing skill is believed to be 98 per cent accurate by Chandigarh Police.

HHMD- Hand Held Metal Detectors are used to detect any metallic object in a person’s physical possession. Besides frisking people entering the vital installations, HHMD is also used to check boxes, cargo, luggage and parcels/ packets.

Overall strength

Two Sub-Inspectors, six head constables and eight constables constitute the anti-sabotage team of the city police force. The personnel work in three teams who check vital installations, busy market places and these days Ramlila and Dussehra venues to rule out the possibility of any hidden explosive dumped in the area.

About three dozen head constables and constables of the UT Police force are also trained to deal with explosive-detection mechanism and are kept as members of the Reserve Force.

Training

The personnel receive training from BD Company 202 at Jalandhar. Members of the anti-sabotage team claim they receive training time and again by various officers of the Indian Army and even the Intelligence Bureau officials.

The sniffer dogs are trained at Punjab Police Academy, Phillaur, or at ITBP Bhanu, Ramgarh. The training begins when the dog is two months old and they are tagged with only one trainer for the rest of their lives. Currently, the city police have five sniffer dogs, exclusively for the purpose of tracking movement of suspects; sniffing narcotics, explosives etc.

What the team can’t do

Despite tall claims by Chandigarh Police of being one of the most hi-tech police forces, the anti-sabotage team cannot diffuse even a minor explosive. Well, they are not required to, as one of the members puts in, “We are neither trained nor authorized to diffuse any explosive. Our job is only to detect it and subsequently inform the Indian Army.”

High spirits

‘Detecting explosives is a passion’- Head Constable Omvir Singh. One of the oldest members of the anti-sabotage team, Head Constable Omvir Singh has spent over 16 years detecting explosives and checking vital installations in the city. “The duty becomes a passion and when one starts enjoying his work, there is no question of fear. The equipment used by us is of good quality. It works well and is quite efficient in detecting explosives.”

SI Gyan Chand- I am heading one of the anti-sabotage squads for the last two years. It becomes quite a challenge to check all such places where innocent lives are at stake. You have to be way more responsible than others when it comes to ensuring public safety.

Tips from the men

* Anything unusual lying at public places should not be touched. The police should be immediately informed.

* While in a movie hall, bus, train, aircraft, one must check the seat’s surroundings to see if there is any unusual/ unattended object lying.