Anti-Terrorism Squad

2021-09-15T08:49:22Z

2409:4042:590:DF83:6D1B:2E3:5619:2475: /* Operational history */

{{short description|Special police force in India}}
{{original research|date=May 2008}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name= Anti Terrorism Squad
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|dates= December 1990 – present
|country= [[India]]
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|branch= Respective Police Departments of different [[States and union territories of India|Indian States]]
|type= [[Police tactical unit]]
|role= [[Air assault]] [[Close-quarters combat]] [[Counter-insurgency]] [[Counter-terrorism]] [[Hostage rescue]] [[HUMINT]] [[Special operations]]
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The '''Anti-Terrorism Squad''' (ATS) is a special police force in several states of [[India]] including [[Maharashtra]], [[Gujarat]], [[Kerala]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Rajasthan]], [[Bihar]], [[Jharkhand]] and [[West Bengal]].<ref name=bp>{{cite web|title=Sarat Kumar appointed as Bihar ATS Chief|url=http://news.biharprabha.com/2013/11/paresh-saxena-appointed-as-bihar-ats-chief/|work=Biharprabha News|date=24 November 2013|access-date=24 November 2013}}</ref> In Maharashtra it is headed by senior of the Indian Police Service.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090615060218/http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/12/stories/2009061259811400.htm "Maharashtra ATS gets new chief"] [[The Hindu]], 2015</ref> The squad has stopped several terrorist attacks in the country.

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.<Ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mensxp.com/special-features/today/28798-the-anti-terrorism-squad-unsung-heroes-of-indian-counter-terrorism.html|title=The Anti-Terrorism Squad: Unsung Heroes of Indian Counter-Terrorism|date=28 December 2015}}</ref> Since its formation in 1990, ATS's officers have won 23 gallantry awards. The Mumbai ATS was involved in the [[2008 Mumbai attacks|26 November 2008 hostage rescue operations]] in multiple locations in [[Mumbai]], Maharashtra including the 5 star hotels [[The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel|Taj]] and [[Oberoi Trident]].

==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 [[1993 Bombay bombings|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.<ref name="MUMATS">[https://mumbaipolice.maharashtra.gov.in/antiterrorismsquad.asp "ANTI – TERRORISM SQUAD"] mumbaipolice.maharashtra.gov.in retrieved on 23 January 2019</ref> The stated objectives of ATS are:

# To gain information about anti-national elements working in any part of Maharashtra
# To co-ordinate with central information agencies like the [[Intelligence Bureau (India)|IB]] and [[Research & Analysis Wing|RAW]] and exchange information with them
# To co-ordinate with similar agencies of other states
# To track and eliminate activities of mafias,gangsters and other organized crime syndicates
# To detect rackets of counterfeit currency notes and smuggling narcotic substances<ref name="MUMATS" />

==Branches==
Several states in India have created ATS units in their respective police forces, including :
* [[Maharashtra]]
* [[Ahmedabad]], [[Gujarat]]<ref>{{cite web|author=Leena Misra |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-07-22/ahmedabad/27200264_1_anti-terror-cells-islamic-fundamentalism-gujarat-police |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023031610/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-07-22/ahmedabad/27200264_1_anti-terror-cells-islamic-fundamentalism-gujarat-police |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-10-23 |title=ATS to branch out to other cities in state – Ahmedabad – City|date=2003-07-22 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=2010-07-26}}</ref>
* [[Lucknow]], [[Uttar Pradesh]]
* [[Kerala]]
* [[Rajasthan]]
* [[Bihar]]
* [[Madhya Pradesh]]
* [[West Bengal]]

==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 killed [[November 2008 Mumbai attacks|fighting terrorists]] on 26 November 2008, at the [[Cama Hospital|Cama & Albless Hospital]] in the [[Dhobitalao]] area of Mumbai. Karkare was killed with other two officers: Additional Commissioner [[Ashok Kamte]] and [[Encounter killings|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 [[The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel|Taj Mahal Palace Hotel]] and [[Oberoi Trident|the Oberoi]] and [[Oberoi Trident|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 '[[Uttar Pradesh|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videoshow/4029172.cms |title=Two alleged terrorists shot dead in Noida-News-Videos-The Times of India |work=The Times of India|access-date=2010-07-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-01-25/india/28008871_1_ats-noida-police-car |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023235130/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-01-25/india/28008871_1_ats-noida-police-car |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-10-23 |title=Two suspected Pak terrorists shot dead in Noida – India|date=2009-01-25 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=2010-08-12}}</ref>

==Operational history==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! 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.
|-
| [[International Maritime Organization|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/ATS-takes-over-probe-of-vessels-seized-near-Alang/620242 |title=ATS takes over probe of vessels seized near Alang |work=Indianexpress|date=2010-05-18 |access-date=2010-07-26}}</ref>
|}M

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20171202032843/http://mahapolice.gov.in/mahapolice/jsp/temp/ats.jsp Maharashtra ATS]
*[https://uppolice.gov.in/frmUnitOfficials.aspx?ats Uttar Pradesh ATS]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Anti-Terrorist Squad, Mumbai}}
[[Category:Maharashtra Police]]
[[Category:People associated with the 2008 Mumbai attacks]]
[[Category:1991 Lokhandwala Complex shootout]]
[[Category:Counter-terrorism in India]]
[[Category:Encounters in India]]
[[Category:Non-military counter-terrorist organizations]]

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Anti-Terrorism Squad