The Mumbai Police on Thursday received counter-terror equipment from the United States. The explosive incident countermeasures equipment, worth $300,000, which include explosive ordnance disposal suits, specially designed helmets, disruptors and scanners, were handed over to the Mumbai Police, a statement from the U.S. Embassy here said.
Addressing a special function organised to hand over the equipment, the outgoing U.S. Ambassador, Nancy J. Powell, said the relationship between the U.S. and India, the oldest and largest democracies in the world, was very strategic.
“Our two nations are committed to fighting terrorism and working to make life safe for all. I am delighted to give explosive incident countermeasures equipment worth $300,000 to the Mumbai Police to aid in the fight against terrorism,” she said.
Since the first anti-terrorist assistance programme in 1995, the U.S. State Department has partnered with the Government of India in delivering 113 courses to the Indian Police. More than 2,000 officers have received training. “Since my arrival to New Delhi, the U.S. has contributed approximately $10 million in training and equipment through the anti-terrorist assistance programme,” Ms Powell said.
The Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD-9) bomb suit and helmet have been designed with direct input from bomb disposal technicians to provide the highest degree of modular protection and operational flexibility, the statement said. The helmet offers protection against fragments with velocities of over 683 metre per second, is made of high-strength fibre and weighs only 3.6 kg with visor. The ergonomic design allows easy movement and good visibility without strain.
