Anti-terrorist squad set up in UP, crime Bill yet to gather steam

Close on the heels of getting the UP Control of Organised Crime (UPCOCA) Bill passed by the state assembly to control organised crime, the Mayawati government on Monday decided to set up an Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) on the lines of Maharashtra to effectively deal with terrorism.

The decision has been taken merely days after terror blasts shook court compounds in three cities of Uttar Pradesh and the RDX recovered in Lucknow.

The government also decided to strengthen the intelligence system in the state by creating a separate cadre comprising people with good knowledge of computer and experts in different languages.

Addressing a press conference here, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati said the Special Task Force (STF) had also been strengthened and two additional STF units had been created by dividing the state into east and west zones having headquarters at Varanasi and Meerut.

Briefing newsmen, Mayawati said although the STF had been successful in busting terrorists networks in the state, it was felt that the state required a specialised unit to effectively deal with terrorism. And so the government has decided to create ATS, which would have its headquarters in the state capital, with a unit in all the seven police zones of Varanasi, Bareilly, Allahabad, Kanpur, Meerut, Gorakhpur and Lucknow.

The ATS would be headed by an IG rank officer under whom would be a DIG and SP besides additional SP and Dy SP, the chief minister said. Inspector General of Lucknow zone, AK Jain has been made in-charge of the ATS, she said.

In a bid to modernise the intelligence units, the government has decided to have a separate cadre for them which would have people having knowledge of computers and who are multilingual.

Besides, latest gadgets would be provided to intelligence units and a provision of Rs 6.75 crore had been made for this purpose, she said.

Keeping in view the serial blasts in court compounds, the government also decided to beef up security at the district and high courts. Mayawati said 25,000 trained homeguards would be deployed in all district courts and the Allahabad high court and its bench in the state capital.