‘IED a serious challenge to security forces’

“No mater how diligent the security forces may be in their drills and procedures,IEDs continue to pose a serious threat to them. Presently,IEDs are being fabricated using sophisticated types of trigger mechanisms activated by remote means using radio frequencies. The adaptation of the use of sophisticated remote control devices has given the terrorists an enhanced standoff ability to carry out their attack and yet not be compromised,” said Datt.

Datt said that the struggle against terrorism might become known as the long war of the 21 st century. He said that the new terrorist groups are more dangerous,more implacable than their older counterparts.

“Terrorism has primarily two basic characteristics – its own invisibility and extreme hatred towards civilised societies and norms. Though the terrorist groups of the 1970s and the 80s used bloodshed to gain their goals,the present day terrorist groups see mass murder as an end in itself. They do not place their bombs for political leverage alone,but to kill as many innocent people as possible. This large scale indiscriminate violence has become the present day reality of terrorism,” Datt said.

The two-day IED workshop will discuss IED threats in different regions of the country and update the particiapants. College of Military Engineering,Pune is the nodal agency of the Army on all IED related issues including training of personnel of the three Services,Para Military Forces,State Police and friendly foreign countries.