The Bomb Detection Squad (BDS) of the Railway Protection Force, Tiruchi Division, has been revamped on the recommendations of a top-level panel to make it more effective.
While some untrained personnel have been replaced with the trained hands for handling security equipment, some well trained persons have been retained. Its strength, which was 15 prior to the revamp, has been scaled down to 11. The revamped squad will have fully trained personnel led by a sub-inspector. Orders posting the trained personnel have been issued.
The panel constituted on the direction of the Inspector General-cum-Chief Security Commissioner, RPF, Southern Railway, had reviewed the functioning of the squad in various divisions. The panel which comprised Additional Chief Security Commissioner, Senior Divisional Security Commissioner, Chennai, and the Divisional Security Commissioner, Palakkad, came out with a set of recommendations in March on manpower strength, duties, and working pattern.
It insisted that the BDS should consist of only trained personnel who were proficient in handling and maintaining equipment used for bomb detection missions; the BDS personnel should not be utilised for any other duty and they should work round the clock.
The revamped squad in Tiruchi would conduct periodic anti-sabotage checks at major railway stations falling within the division, including Villupuram, Thanjavur, Vriddhachalam, Kumbakonam, and Mayiladuthurai. It would only detect explosive substances while the disposal would be done by the State police.
Eight door frame metal detectors, procured under the Integrated Security Scheme, had been installed at Tiruchi Junction at vantage points to detect explosive substances.
A host of security equipment had been procured under the ISS, including under vehicle scanners, surveillance cameras, bomb baskets, and hand-held metal detectors.
Bomb detection squads are functioning in Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, and Thiruvananthapuram.
