Anti-Terrorism Squad

The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) is a special police force in several states of India including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar and West Bengal.[1] In Maharashtra it is headed by senior of the Indian Police Service.[2] The squad has stopped several terrorist attacks in the country.

Anti Terrorism Squad
ActiveDecember 1990 – present
CountryIndia
BranchRespective Police Departments of different Indian States
RoleInternal special forces, internal intelligence and hostage rescue
EquipmentClassified

ATS was founded in Maharashtra in 1990 by then Additional Commissioner of Mumbai Police Aftab Ahmed Khan popularly known as A.A. Khan. He was inspired by the Los Angeles Police Department's Special Weapons & Tactics (SWAT) teams methods to combat modern-day terrorism.[3] Since its formation in 1990, ATS's officers have won 23 gallantry awards. The Mumbai ATS was involved in the 26 November 2008 hostage rescue operations in multiple locations in Mumbai, Maharashtra including the 5 star hotels Taj and Oberoi Trident.

After the attacks, it also started appointing children (ages above 12) as officers of ATC, particularly in Mumbai, which were given training as undercover.

Termination and reformation

The ATS was formed in December 1990 and helped reduce the crime rate in Mumbai by 70%. However, there were many human rights violations by the squad, from extreme means of torture to public shootings. Following the 1991 Lokhandwala Complex shootout on 16 November 1991 and many more encounters, 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 29 January 1993 following the termination of the program. One month later on 12 March 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 8 July 2004[4] The stated objectives of ATS are:

  1. To gain information about anti-national elements working in any part of Maharashtra
  2. To co-ordinate with central information agencies like the IB and RAW and exchange information with them
  3. To co-ordinate with similar agencies of other states
  4. To track and eliminate activities of mafia and other organized crime syndicates
  5. To detect rackets of counterfeit currency notes and smuggling narcotic substances[4]

Branches

Several states in India have created ATS units in their respective police forces, including :

1991 shootout at Lokhandwala

On 16 November 1991 the ATS Chief, A.A. Khan, lead a squad of officers into the Swati building in Lokhandwala, eliminating 7 gangsters including Maya Dolas and Dilip Buwa. The shootout lasted 4 hours and more than 450 rounds were fired.

November 2008 Mumbai attacks

The former ATS Chief Hemant Karkare was martyred fighting terrorists on 26 November 2008, at the Cama & Albless Hospital in the Dhobitalao 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 the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel and the Oberoi and Trident, Nariman Point hotels. Here the terrorists had killed 146 people, wounded at least 327, and taken at least 15 people hostage. Indians accounted for 96 dead of those, and at least 300 of those injured.

Karkare, a 1982 batch IPS officer, had returned to his state cadre after a seven-year tenure with the Research and Analysis Wing, India's external intelligence agency, in Austria.

2009 shootout

On 25 January 2009, after receiving a tip-off, ATS agents chased a Maruti 800 car bearing a 'UP' number-plate in Noida. During the chase, the terrorists shot at the police officers who retaliated, causing the car to hit the rear tyre of the suspects' car, veering it off the road. ATS officers then took cover behind a roadblock and engaged the terrorists for 38 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.[6][7]

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 ATS 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 2016–17 – Ongoing Mumbai, belgaum, Delhi NA (ATS) Chidambar Ashok Pujari and his team special unit 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.[8]

References
  1. "Sarat Kumar appointed as Bihar ATS Chief". Biharprabha News. 24 November 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  2. "Maharashtra ATS gets new chief" The Hindu, 2015
  3. https://www.mensxp.com/special-features/today/28798-the-anti-terrorism-squad-unsung-heroes-of-indian-counter-terrorism.html
  4. "ANTI – TERRORISM SQUAD" mumbaipolice.maharashtra.gov.in retrieved on 23 January 2019
  5. Leena Misra (22 July 2003). "ATS to branch out to other cities in state – Ahmedabad – City". The Times of India. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  6. "Two alleged terrorists shot dead in Noida-News-Videos-The Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  7. "Two suspected Pak terrorists shot dead in Noida – India". The Times of India. 25 January 2009. Retrieved 12 August 2010.
  8. "ATS takes over probe of vessels seized near Alang". Indianexpress. 18 May 2010. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
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