Security put on high alert in twin cities

Civil Defence gets latest bombproof kits, vehicles from EU

RAWALPINDI:

Security has been put on high alert in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Friday after the suicide bomb in Sector I-10/4 sector.

On the directives of Regional Police Officer Rawalpindi Region Nasir Mehmood Satti, the security had been enhanced outside sensitive buildings and installations, while armed police personnel had also been deployed outside mosques, Imambargahs and churches, said a police spokesman.

The RPO directed the all DPOs of the region to make security arrangements at all entry and exit points and ensure snap-checking of suspected vehicles entering the division.

Security had been tightened in various parts of the city and Cantonment areas following the Islamabad blast. The city's crowded markets such as Raja Bazaar, Bara Market, Murree Road, Commercial Market, Bank Road, Mall Road and others were being monitored by CCTV cameras, he said adding that police patrolling had been increased.

The spokesman said that special teams of the anti-terrorism force had been placed on high alert to deal with any untoward incident. SHOs of all police stations had been directed to be in full liaison with other law enforcement agencies, he said.

Meanwhile, the bomb disposal squad of the Civil Defence Department has been put on red alert by providing bombproof kits and the latest vehicle to defuse all types of bombs, grenades and explosives.

A bomb disposal squad control room has been set up and activated for 24 hours. The bomb disposal squad also conducted a practical rehearsal of defusing explosives under the supervision of District Officer Civil Defence Talib Hussain.

Commander Bomb Disposal Squad and Khalil Anwar conducted a practical demonstration of the rehearsal. The latest bomb disposal vehicle supplied by Europe also carries electronic tank-like robots. This robot is 2.5 feet long and 1.5 feet wide.

It disables all types of bombs, grenades, and explosives found by modern methods while this vehicle can also identify underground buried explosives during searching.

The bomb disposal squad commander demonstrated the deactivation of a hand grenade in a rehearsal with the help of the robot, while the bomb disposal squad commander also demonstrated to defuse explosives by wearing a bomb-proof state-of-the-art life jacket.

The advanced vehicle is also capable of jamming the explosives placed at the desired location. The modern vehicle was provided as a gift to the Civil Defence by the European Union.

District Officer Civil Defence Talib Hussain told The Express Tribune that the robot that defuses bombs and explosives was very safe. “Even if there are two or three explosions at the same time, this robot can continue working without any damage,” he said adding that “apart from this, this robot can safely pick up explosives, explosive jacket bombs to deserted place or forest if found in densely populated areas and destroy them safely”. Whereas the bomb disposal squad's modern bomb disposal kit weighs 80 kilograms.

He said that “the kit not only protects itself but also protects the life of the field worker if there are two explosions”.

“Due to the wave of terrorism, we have expanded the scope of civil defence volunteers in all tehsils in district Rawalpindi and all the volunteers have been put on red alert,” he said adding that the bomb disposal squad and field staff have also been alerted.

Talib Hussain said that due to the onset of the snow season in Murree, the civil defence, and the field staff have also been on high alert in Murree.

The number of volunteers is also being increased in Murree. Civil defence volunteers have also been alerted in other tehsils of Rawalpindi, Kotli Sattian, Gujjar Khan, Taxila, Kallar Syedan ​​and Kahota. He said that we have a total of 500 volunteers in the Rawalpindi district, including 75 female volunteers.

All these volunteers are full uniformed force, and walkie-talkies are also being provided for communication to central volunteers and wardens to deal with any kind of situation. Teaser guns for Murree volunteers will also be available next week. The bomb disposal squad control room will work 24 hours in the office, while the bomb disposal squad teams have been reserved for fields.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 24^th, 2022.