PANJIM, APRIL 8
After over 16 months of submitting the proposal to the government, the Goa Police have finally begun the process of setting up its own Anti-Terrorist Squad.
In wake of reports of the State consistently figuring in the hit list of terror organizations, the Goa Police had made a proposal to the government to set up its own ATS in November 2008.
Even 16 months after the proposal being made, the government has not given any approval and according to sources the file is gathering dust in the secretariat.
Not willing to waste any more time, the Goa Police has begun the ground level work for setting up the squad.
The Goa Police has selected a team of 10 officers under Superintendent of Police Atmaram Deshpande.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Mohan Naik, sub inspectors Tushar Lotlikar, Rahul Parab and Prajyot Phadte and six more PSIs from the Indian Reserve Battalion have been selected for the job.
“The government permission is not yet come but we have begun our internal work and appointed 10 officers from police stations and the IRB as this was urgently required,” Deputy Inspector General of Police Ravindra Yadav told Herald confirming the development.
Yadav said that these officers will be specially trained to upgrade their skills.
Giving details of the ATS, he said, “We already have a Special Branch existing and we will work on the same lines.”
Asked where the officers would be provided training, he said, “That is an internal matter but we will look at some specialized central agencies.”
On the delay from the government’s side to grant approval for creating vacancies in ATS, he said, “I don’t know, I can’t comment on it. Maybe it is because there are several departments involved.”
According to sources, Goa’s Special Cell (ATS) will be a 150-strong force that would look into aspects such as collection of terror-related intelligence and cyber crime.
Most of the manpower for the cell would be sourced from the police force itself, sources said adding the Special Cell would also look at sourcing Armed Forces Short Service Commission officials from the Rajya Sainik Board and hire telecom and cyber crime expertise.
