SPY EYES

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) has finally started using the robotic systems capable of remotely defusing explosive devices, becoming the first service in the country to be equipped with the state-of-the-art technology, a senior police official said.

Talking to The Express Tribune, K-P BDS Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Shafqat Malik said that the robotic systems, purchased from the British government, are designed to scan a suspicious vehicle or object for explosives and defuse them upon detection.

He further said that two of the systems were kept in Peshawar while one each was also provided to Kohat and Mardan.

Two more such robots will be acquired from European Union, which will be deployed in DI Khan and Bannu districts, he added.

The robots were deployed for the first time in a suburban area of Peshawar in the presence of the AIG. The advanced camera sensors allow the robots to dig up and defuse any explosives that are detected.

Each system costs approximately Rs 10-15 million and is operated by a team of experts, through a computer interface, he added.

“The robots will help us locate explosives and defuse them without any human loss,” the official said. He added that bomb-defusing kits were provided along with the robots capable of dealing with improvised explosive devices (IEDs), bombs, packet bombs and explosive-laden vehicles.

Furthermore, bombproof uniform weighing 55 kilograms has also been handed over to the BDS that was used during averting and defusing the threat. The uniform has proved to be a great help as 27 explosive devices had been successfully defused so far, he added.

According to Malik, since K-P was in a state of war in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Law enforcement agencies in the province were in dire need of acquiring the latest technology to thwart growing terrorism and security threats.

The AIG said that authorities are surrounded by a plethora of problems on multiple fronts and the new systems will greatly help them protect people’s lives in emergency scenarios.

“Despite the fact that we are confronted with various problems, our officials and policemen remain committed to providing security and protection to the life and property of people across the province,” he stated.