Anti-Terrorism Squad

For the former name of the New Zealand Police tactical group, see Anti-Terrorist Squad.

An Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) is a special counterterrorism unit present in several state police agencies of India including Maharashtra Police,[1] Gujarat Police,[2] Kerala Police,[3] Uttar Pradesh Police,[4] Rajasthan Police,[5] Bihar Police,[6] Jharkhand Police,[7]Tamil Nadu Police,[8] Madhya Pradesh Police[9] and Chhattisgarh Police.[10] These units are frequently involved in the investigative, intelligence and emergency response aspects related to terrorism and cooperate with other branches of their police departments, police forces from other states, and national agencies such as the Intelligence Bureau and the National Investigation Agency.[11]

The first Anti-Terrorism Squad of India was founded in Maharashtra in 1990 by the then Additional Commissioner of Police, Mumbai Aftab Ahmed Khan (popularly known as A.A. Khan). He was inspired by the Los Angeles Police Department's Special Weapons & Tactics (SWAT) team's methods to combat modern-day terrorism.[11] Since then Anti-Terrorism Squads have been integrated into the police departments of numerous states, with the original ATS of Maharashtra Police being terminated and then reconstituted.

  1. ^ "Kerala train fire: Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad nabs suspect near Ratnagiri". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  2. ^ Service, Indo-Asian News (22 May 2023). "Gujarat ATS arrests suspected Al-Qaeda terrorist; frames charges against 4 people". The Siasat Daily. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  3. ^ "First time since formation, Kerala's anti-terrorism squad gets own posts". English.Mathrubhumi. 11 September 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  4. ^ "ATS raids different locations in Uttar Pradesh, detain 70 people over alleged links with PFI". The Hindu. 7 May 2023. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  5. ^ "Rajasthan ATS, SOG to probe Udaipur railway track blast from November 15". The Hindu. 15 November 2022. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Migrant workers attack row: Bihar's anti-terrorism squad makes first arrest in fake videos case - The New Indian Express". www.newindianexpress.com. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  7. ^ PTI; ThePrint (16 May 2023). "Gangster Aman Srivastava, wanted in 23 cases, arrested by Jharkhand ATS from Navi Mumbai". ThePrint. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  8. ^ "It's official: Tamil Nadu to get Anti-Terrorism Squad". The Times of India. 27 May 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  9. ^ "Madhya Pradesh ATS carries out searches to nab terror suspect". The Times of India. 28 February 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  10. ^ ATS, Chhattisgarh ATS. "Chhattisgarh anti terrorism squad ats".
  11. ^ a b "The Anti-Terrorism Squad: Unsung Heroes of Indian Counter-Terrorism". 28 December 2015. Archived from the original on 29 December 2015.