The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : More EVDs, bomb disposal suits for police

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Monday, Aug 11, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

More EVDs, bomb disposal suits for police

Staff Reporter

Police check vehicles, frisk people at Maithrivanam, Ameerpet, after cordoning off part of the street

HYDERABAD: The State police have decided to face the increasing terror threats by procuring more and better security gadgets to identify and defuse explosives at crowded places.

In the wake of recent terror strikes at Bangalore and Ahmedabad and the threat from self-styled Indian Mujahideen that it would target Hyderabad, the police department wrote to the Centre seeking funds for a comprehensive security package.

Police would get more number of crucial security equipments if the package is sanctioned, Additional Director General of Police A.K. Khan told The Hindu on Friday.

High-level team visit

The gadgets include Explosive Vapour Detectors (EVDs), bomb disposal suits and under carriage surveillance units. A high-level official team during its recent trip examined different types of security systems that help police identify explosives planted at crowded places.

Funds for the security package were sought under the modernisation of police force and mega policing projects.

Hyderabad was among the seven mega cities in the country selected for funds under mega policing project.

Purchasing EVDs, which were used all these days only during VVIP movements, became necessary in the wake of increased threat perception though each unit costs Rs. 18 lakh.

e-mail threat

Meanwhile, city police stepped up security checks at all public places witnessing huge crowds following a threat in the form of e-mail from persons claiming activists of the proscribed Students Islamic Movement of India.

The mail stating that bombs were planted across the State was sent to two Telugu TV news channels.

City Police Commissioner B. Prasada Rao said police did not want to take a chance and started extensive searches and frisking operations at bus-stands, railway stations, lodges, markets and places of entertainment.

On Friday evening, police checked vehicles and subjected people to frisking at Maithrivanam in Ameerpet after cordoning off part of the street.

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Andhra Pradesh