- Anti Terrorist Squad (India)
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Anti Terrorism Squad Active December 1990 - Present Country India Branch Mumbai Police Role Internal Special Forces The Anti-Terrorism Squad is a force of about 30 to 35 police officers in Mumbai, India. The ATS, as they are commonly known, also have branches in different states throughout the country. In Maharashtra it was headed by senior IPS officer K.P. Raghuvanshi.[1] The Squad has stopped several terrorist attacks in the country.
The then Additional Commissioner of Mumbai Police Aftab Ahmed Khan, popularly known as A.A.Khan, is the founder of ATS He was inspired by Los Angeles Police Department's Special Weapons & Tactics (SWAT) to take control over modern-day terrorism. After its formation in 1990, ATS's officers won 23 gallantry awards. The Antiterrorism Squad was involved in 26 November hostage rescue operations in multiple locations in Mumbai, India, including the 5 star Taj hotel and the Oberoi Trident hotel, but was found to be extremely incompetent in terror attacks of such magnitude.
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Termination and Reformation
This special unit was formed on December 1990 and helped reduce the crime rate in Mumbai by 70%. However, there were many human rights violations by this organization, from extreme means of torture to public shootings. The most infamous shooting was the 1991 Lokhandwala Complex shootout, which occurred at Lokhandwala on November 16, 1991, based on which a 2007 Bollywood movie Shootout at Lokhandwala was made. The organization was terminated in January 1993. The leader of this program, A.A-Khan, was transferred as the ICP Anti Naxalite division to Nagpur on January 29, 1993 following the termination of the program. One month later on March 12, 1993 the Bombay blasts occurred, and the crime rate has increased since then.
As per the information available on the official website of Mumbai Police, ATS was created by the Government of Maharashtra, vide G.R. No. SAS-10/03/15/SB-IV, dated July 8, 2004[2] The stated objectives of ATS are
- To get information about anti-national elements working in any part of Maharashtra
- To co-ordinate with Central information agencies, like IB, RAW and exchange information with them
- To co-ordinate with similar agencies of other States
- To track and eliminate activities of mafia and other organized crime syndicates
- To detect rackets of counterfeit currency notes and smuggling narcotic substances[2]
Branches
Several states in India have created ATS units in their respective police forces, including :
November 2008 Mumbai attacks
The former ATS Chief Hemant Karkare was killed fighting terrorists on the 26th November, 2008, at the Cama & Albless Hospital in the Dhobi Talao area of Mumbai. Karkare was killed with other two officers: Additional commissioner Ashok Kamte and ‘encounter specialist’ Vijay Salaskar. He was among the 14 police officials killed while fighting terrorists in Mumbai.
The terrorists had holed up in many heritage locations of Mumbai, such as Taj Mahal Palace (Hotel)& The Oberoi and Trident Nariman Point Hotels, where terrorists had killed 146 people, wounded at least 327, and taken at least 15 people hostage. Indians accounted for the majority of those attacked: 96 dead, at least 300 injured.
Karkare, a 1982 batch IPS officer, had returned to his state cadre after a seven-year tenure with the Research and Analysis Wing, Indian external intelligence agency, in Austria.
2009 shootout
After receiving a tip-off, ATS agents chased a Maruti 800 car bearing a 'UP' number-plate. During the chase, the terrorists shot at the police officers who retaliated, causing the car to hit the rear tire of the suspects' car, veering it off the road. ATS officers then took cover behind a roadblock and engaged the terrorists for 30 minutes in a fierce gun-battle. Officer Vinod Kumar sustained a bullet injury during the gunfight. The two terrorists ceased firing after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds and succumbed to their injuries while they were rushed to the hospital.[4][5]
Operational history
Operation Date Location KIA Additional Comment/Details 2008 Mumbai attacks 26 November 2008-29 November 2008 Mumbai Yes ATS officers responded to the terrorists strike in Mumbai on [26/11]. ATS Chief Hemant Karkare was killed while fighting the terrorists. Noida shootout 24 January 2009 Noida, Delhi. NO ATS car chase and subsequent shootout with two terrorists on the outskirts of Noida.ATS officer Sharma was wounded in the gunfight. IMO Violations at Alang Ship Breaking and DEA Terrorists May 2010 - Ongoing Mumbai, Alang, Delhi NA ATS has taken over investigations of smuggled vessels arriving at Alang Ship Breaking facilities and their relation to material supplies and resources for Terrorists including the Mumbai attack's Headley (American DEA) and vessels like SS Norway and SS Independence and others.[6] November 16, 1991, Lokhandwala Complex, ATS Killed 6 gangsters including Maya Dolas and Dilip Bhua, this shootout took place in Swati Building, Lokhandwala, Mumbai and lasted 4 hours with more than 450 rounds fired.
References
- ^ "Maharashtra ATS gets new chief" hindu.com June 12, 2009
- ^ a b "ANTI - TERRORISM SQUAD" mumbaipolice.org retrieved on July 27, 2009
- ^ Leena Misra, TNN, Jul 22, 2003, 12.58am IST (2003-07-22). "ATS to branch out to other cities in state - Ahmedabad - City - The Times of India". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/88479.cms. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
- ^ "Two alleged terrorists shot dead in Noida-News-Videos-The Times of India". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videoshow/4029172.cms. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
- ^ TNN, Jan 25, 2009, 12.35pm IST (2009-01-25). "Two suspected Pak terrorists shot dead in Noida - India - The Times of India". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Two_suspected_Pak_terrorists_shot_dead_in_Noida/articleshow/4028732.cms. Retrieved 2010-08-12.
- ^ "ATS takes over probe of vessels seized near Alang". Indianexpress.com. 2010-05-18. http://www.indianexpress.com/news/ATS-takes-over-probe-of-vessels-seized-near-Alang/620242. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
External links
- Down as of 2010
Official website - [1] Official.
Categories:- Mumbai Police
- People associated with the 2008 Mumbai attacks
- 1991 Lokhandwala Complex shootout
- Counter-terrorism in India
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