IIT-B to Help Security Forces Fight Terrorism

By siliconindia   |   Saturday, 08 October 2011, 02:24 IST
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IIT-B to Help Security Forces Fight Terrorism
Bangalore: Capturing images and viewing them at a command station during terror operations will soon be possible in the country. The wireless communication device, used to capture images when American military forces gunned down Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, could become a reality in India, reports Yogita Rao, TNN. The IIT-B will set up a research centre on homeland security to help police and paramilitary forces use state of the art technology to tackle problems like urban terrorism, naxalism and cyber crime. The institute's electrical engineering department has developed a wireless communication device that will permit beaming live images to a command station. Images are transmitted using ultra broadband services. They are updating the version to shrink the size and make it more cost effective. The institute has collaborated with a recently set up anti-terror force and is developing the device for it. Though many individual efforts have begun at the department level, the institute has drawn up a blueprint to set up the virtual centre. "Police forces in the country do not have access to technology that could be used to tackle urban crime like terrorism. The institute plans to use its expertise to develop technology for security forces. We plan to make a consolidated approach so that as a centre we can seek funds to streamline research," said Professor Abhay Karandikar, from the IIT's electrical engineering department in the report. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has taken active interest in the institute's projects and some demonstrations of prototypes developed by the institute have been held for some of its top officials. The institute has been involved in training senior police officials in technology for the last few years. While the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) already works towards developing technology for military forces, there is almost no centre or agency working for police forces in the country.