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The police clarified that there were eighteen Bomb Detection Teams in Delhi, strategically located at base stations to minimize response time and ensure coverage of the geographical areas within each district. They also stated that five Bomb Disposal Squads were operational and based at similar stations
The Delhi Police, recently, informed the Delhi High Court that in case of an emergency, smaller teams could be formed from their existing five bomb disposal squads and eighteen bomb detection teams. Additionally, they mentioned the availability of twenty-three BDS/BDT units from the Central Armed Police Forces in Delhi, which could be deployed with the approval of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The police further noted that five batches of BDS/BDT, each consisting of fifteen personnel, would undergo training for this purpose. This statement was included in an additional affidavit filed in response to a 2023 petition by lawyer Arpit Bhargava, following a hoax bomb threat at Delhi Public School, Mathura Road.
In their latest affidavit, the police explained that smaller teams could be formed to meet the demand for additional BDS/BDT units during emergencies. For instance, during the G-20 Summit, they efficiently formed thirty-three teams using existing resources and personnel from the mentioned units.
The affidavit emphasized that BDS/BDT staff received periodic refresher courses to stay updated with the latest developments in technology and scenarios. According to standard operating procedures, BDS is deployed only after the BDT has inspected the location and identified a suspicious object requiring BDS intervention.
An earlier report indicated that there was one BDS each in the Central, East, New Delhi, and South ranges, serving 1,764, 1,032, 76, and 1,762 schools, respectively, along with one squad for the railways and metro unit range. The police had also reported that eighteen Bomb Detection Teams were stationed across fifteen districts and at IGI Airport, Railway Unit, and Metro Unit, with the district DCP or Unit DCP as their reporting authority. From January 1, 2023, to May 6, 2024, a total of 120 mock drills had been conducted in schools.
A detailed Standard Operating Procedure for Bomb Disposal Squads and Bomb Detection Teams was issued in 2021, guiding nodal officers in responding to threat calls. The Directorate of Education, in its status report, reiterated its zero-tolerance policy regarding school safety and detailed the steps taken to enforce guidelines for handling disasters, including bomb threats. The DoE had issued several directives to institutions, including a circular dated April 16, outlining precautionary measures and the roles of school authorities in the event of bomb threats.
[Inputs: Economic Times]
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