GUJRAT, Nov 18: The district authorities at last recognised the courage and skill of a local Bomb Disposal Squad official who single-handedly defused several explosive devices recovered a couple of days ago from suspected terrorists, announcing for Muhammad Ashraf proper safety gear, besides a cash award.

The announcement was made by District Coordination Officer Nawazish Ali at a ceremony held in recognition of services of Mr Ashraf who defused the explosive devices, including detonators of suicide vests, grenades etc, seized during an operation in Cha Beriwala locality of the city and Saghar village in Tanda police precincts, without any safety gear and gadgets.

Forty-five-year old Ashraf, a father of three children, has been working in the Civil Defence department as bomb disposal commander for about two decades.

As the department lacks safety gears and other modern gadgetry required for safely defusing explosive devices, its officials justifiably feel reluctant to perform their duty as it puts their life on risk.

But, according to his bosses and colleagues, Ashraf is always ready to fight any emergency and leads his team from the front.

At the ceremony held at the DCO office, Mr Nawazish Ali lauded the courage and dutifulness of Mr Ashrad, announcing Rs25000 cash prize for him.

The DCO also announced that Ashraf would be provided bomb disposal gear worth Rs1 million that would be specially imported for him at the earliest so that he could perform his job more confidently.

Those who appreciated Ashraf’s services on the occasion also included Gujrat Tehsil Municipal Administration head Sumair Ahmed Syed who also holds additional district collector’s office and District Officer Coordination (DOC) Qutab Shujaa.