India and the US are working jointly to develop a multi-mode passive detection system, a dual-use technology that will help scan vehicles non-intrusively for identifying concealed arms, ammunition or narcotics, said outgoing Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) director general Kuldiep Singh.
“A team of officials from India visited the US and studied the available technology, after which it was decided that a technical team from the US will visit India to understand and develop the detection system as per Indian condition requirements,” Singh said 29 September.
The detection equipment will be able to scan large trucks, cargo and containers at the international borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh, he said.
Regarding the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, Singh said incidents of stone-pelting are almost nil but 200 local and foreign militants are still active.
Since the beginning of the year, 112 terrorists have been killed by security forces while 156 have been apprehended and two surrendered, he said. In 2021, 132 militants were killed during the corresponding period.
Asked about the use of sticky bombs in J&K’s Udhampur, Singh said, “We have threats from our neighbouring country. The agencies are working on it to know whether it is a sticky bomb or not. But it is a challenge.”
The coordinated detonation of two improvised explosive devices in Udhampur within eight hours on 26the night and 27th September morning were similar and were triggered by a timer, according to J&K Police.
Elaborating on security cover for VVIPs, Singh said, “CRPF provides security cover to 119 people, out of which 18 are in Z Plus and 27 are in Z category.”
Important protectees include Union home minister Amit Shah, former prime minister Manmohan Singh and Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
A 1986 batch Indian Police Service officer, Singh took over as CRPF director general in February 2021 and had additional charge of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for more than a year.
Singh said due to stringent action against left-wing extremism “their activities have been contained to a large extent”. “There is a discernible improvement in the situation. Areas which were earlier considered to be the strongholds of Maoists are now free of their influence and are now dominated by security forces. Bihar is now free of Naxals while they have been pushed back in Jharkhand after intensive operations,” he said.
In 2022, 11 Maoists were killed, 387 arrested and 370 surrendered, according to Singh.
