PUNE: KPS Murthy, Director, High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), said that there has been a paradigm shift in our approach post 26/11 attack.

“We are 'proactive and preventive' in approach to threat scenario rather than 'reactive,' which we were in the past. There is a need to understand the explosive detection requirements of the security forces,” he added, while speaking at the inauguration of the first of its kind National Workshop on Explosives Detection (NWED) at HEMRL, Pune, on Friday.

Over 200 different stakeholders from DRDO labs, Army, central police organisation, state police, academic institutes, private industries and other security agencies are participating in the two-day event and sharing their vast knowledge, experience and related recent technical advancements for greater synergy.

PK Mehta, DG (ACE), said that detecting concealed explosives is the biggest challenge today.

Dr Umapathy, Director, IISER, Bhopal, pointed out that since there were a variety of explosives, no single technology could detect all types of explosives in the current times. Therefore, a single device combining multiple technologies and providing holistic solution is the need of the hour. He added that the time was ripe for understanding the user's requirement and developing devices accordingly.

Other dignitaries in attendance were Dr A Maheswari, DG, BPR&D, New Delhi, Lt Gen Michel Mathews, Commandant CME, Dr KM Rajan, Director ARDE and Dr SK Vasudeva, Scientific Consultant to PSA.

The concluding session planned on December 15 will endeavour to develop a road map for the futuristic detection technologies.

OPX REVILATOR
HEMRL has developed explosive detector OPX Revilator, which is a portable and miniaturised device, and expected to assist multiple security agencies.