Jalandhar, June 2
Hi-tech robotic display marked the golden jubilee celebrations of Sher-e-Punjab bomb disposal family at Jalandhar cantonment on Saturday. It’s the second oldest bomb disposal company of the Army.

Various steps involved in the use of the latest technology for disposal of bombs were on display. The first step involved the arrival of the squad with one jammer vehicle. The jammer vehicle, which is meant to bar all signals and use of remote control systems to activate unexploded bombs, was stationed at short and safe distance from the site.

The next step on display was evacuation of the area and marking it from all sides to disallow anyone to enter there. A sniffer dog with its master went around the area and detected the exact point where the explosives had been planted. Men using electric circuit detector and metal detectors went to the site for an inspection. The results were noted down from a video screen located at a distance.

Then an unmanned vehicle controlled through a cable was sent to the exact point where the circuit was located and disrupted it with a loud bang. A man dressed up in a bomb suit lifted the explosives from the public place and placed it at a safer place. The unmanned remote-operated wheel barrow for removing suspected heavy objects and even a suspected car from the site was also demonstrated. The vehicle was taken around a difficult trajectory that included heights and use of steps to demonstrate its capability to cross different terrains. The imported machine costing Rs 1.6 crore was then used to lift a suspected human bomb using clumps.

An exhibition was also held in which various attachments used by the machine for various purposes. A render safe procedure kit that used various tools such as different types of mirrors, lamps, torches and pipes was shown. The parts of a fibre optical surveillance device were also shown. The use of jammers at various places was also demonstrated. Methodology to use human bombs, pipe bombs, seat bombs and briefcase bombs was also explained in the exhibition.

The thick bomb suit with its inner that had water circulation system to keep the jawan cool was also put on display. Lieut-Col Devinder Bhardwaj said since the area did not have many such cases where bomb disposal was required, very few operations had been carried out here. Explaining the origin of the unit, he said that it was raised at Khadki in Pune on June 1, 1957, and Capt R.R. Rane, first Param Vir Chakra awardee of Corps of Engineers, was its first officer commanding. Vajra Corps on Friday celebrated the diamond jubilee of Army Education Corps. Lieut-Gen Noble Thamburaj, General Officer Commanding, complimented all ranks and their families on
the occasion.

Kapurthala, June 2
Hundreds of teachers from across the state, under the banner of computer teachers’ union, raised slogans against the Punjab government outside BDPO office at Sultanpur Lodhi on Saturday. They were protesting against `police lathicharge’ on union members.

In a release issued to the press, union vice-president CS Minhas said more than 12 teachers were hurt in the incident which took place at around 2.30 pm. The union leader said the teachers, seeking their regularisation, had gathered outside the BDPO office where education minister Bibi Upinderjeet Kaur was hearing the grievances of the public in a ‘Sangat Darshan’ programme.

Later, the education minister called the representatives of the union and assured them of a positive solution to their problems.

Minhas said there were around 8,000 computer teachers working on contract in different government schools in the state. The union is demanding their immediate regularisation as promised by ruling SAD-BJP government, he added.

When contacted, SSP Rakesh Agarwal rubbished the claims of union that their men were canecharged.