A 10-day training camp organised at the Police Training College in Jharoda Kalan has just concluded where scientists from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) were given lessons on the behaviour of radioactive substances and how to control or neutralise their harmful radiations. Police sources said four inspectors and about 20 sub-inspectors underwent this specialised training.

“All Delhi Police officers (first batch) who received the training were science graduates,” a source in the police department said. “Only science graduates have been made eligible for this training as the subject has a lot of technicalities that could only be taught easily to officers with a suitable background.”

The training comes at a time when there are heightened apprehensions about the possibility of militant groups getting access to nuclear or radioactive material, and using them in any future attacks to maximise casualties. Sources said the training programme began on January 2 and the first batch was relieved on Tuesday.

“The officers who underwent training were not just from the specialised wings of the Delhi Police but also came from the districts,” a senior officer said.

An officer who was part of the training: “We were taught about radioactivity. Scientists from BARC taught us about detecting and defusing any bomb or destructive material that could contain radioactive material.”

Senior IPS officers in Delhi Police had earlier attended workshops related to this training after which the brass decided to gradually pass on the experience to other men. Sources said such training was unique for any police force in the country and was thus far made available only to select military officers. “It is basically being done to spread awareness about nuclear, biological and chemical warfare among the police officers,” Joint Commissioner of Police (Training) S Nithianandam said.

Nithianandam said such type of attacks have occurred in countries like Japan and Russia where chemicals were used.