Anti Terrorist Squad
Encyclopedia
The Anti-Terrorism Squad is a force of about 30 to 35 police officers in Mumbai, India. The ATS, as they are commonly known, also have branches in different states throughout the country. In Maharashtra it was headed by senior IPS officer K.P. Raghuvanshi. The Squad has stopped several terrorist attacks in the country.
The then Additional Commissioner of Mumbai Police Aftab Ahmed Khan
, popularly known as A.A.Khan, is the founder of ATS
He was inspired by Los Angeles Police Department's Special Weapons & Tactics (SWAT
) to take control over modern-day terrorism. After its formation in 1990, ATS's officers won 23 gallantry awards. The Antiterrorism Squad was involved in 26 November hostage rescue operations in multiple locations in Mumbai, India, including the 5 star Taj hotel and the Oberoi Trident hotel, but was found to be extremely incompetent in terror attacks of such magnitude.
However, there were many human rights violations by this organization, from extreme means of torture to public shootings. The most infamous shooting was the 1991 Lokhandwala Complex shootout
, which occurred at Lokhandwala on November 16, 1991, based on which a 2007 Bollywood
movie Shootout at Lokhandwala
was made. 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 January 29, 1993 following the termination of the program. One month later on March 12, 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 July 8, 2004 The stated objectives of ATS are
was killed fighting terrorists on the 26th November, 2008, at the Cama & Albless Hospital in the Dhobi Talao 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 Taj Mahal Palace (Hotel)& The Oberoi and Trident Nariman Point Hotels, where terrorists had killed 146 people, wounded at least 327, and taken at least 15 people hostage. Indians accounted for the majority of those attacked: 96 dead, at least 300 injured.
Karkare, a 1982 batch IPS officer, had returned to his state cadre after a seven-year tenure with the Research and Analysis Wing, Indian external intelligence agency, in Austria.
car bearing a 'UP' number-plate. During the chase, the terrorists shot at the police officers who retaliated, causing the car to hit the rear tire of the suspects' car, veering it off the road. ATS officers then took cover behind a roadblock and engaged the terrorists for 30 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.
November 16, 1991, Lokhandwala Complex, ATS Killed 6 gangsters including Maya Dolas and Dilip Bhua, this shootout took place in Swati Building, Lokhandwala, Mumbai and lasted 4 hours with more than 450 rounds fired.
The then Additional Commissioner of Mumbai Police Aftab Ahmed Khan
Aftab Ahmed Khan
Aftab Ahmed Khan is a former Indian Police Service officer, turned politician from Mumbai, India, noted for his encounter killings of gangsters from the Mumbai organized crime syndicates....
, popularly known as A.A.Khan, is the founder of ATS
ATS
-Societies:*Adventist Theological Society*American Temperance Society, an early American civic organization promoting temperance*American Thoracic Society, a society for lung physicians, health related professionals and researchers-Systems:...
He was inspired by Los Angeles Police Department's Special Weapons & Tactics (SWAT
SWAT
A SWAT team is an elite tactical unit in various national law enforcement departments. They are trained to perform high-risk operations that fall outside of the abilities of regular officers...
) to take control over modern-day terrorism. After its formation in 1990, ATS's officers won 23 gallantry awards. The Antiterrorism Squad was involved in 26 November hostage rescue operations in multiple locations in Mumbai, India, including the 5 star Taj hotel and the Oberoi Trident hotel, but was found to be extremely incompetent in terror attacks of such magnitude.
Termination and Reformation
This special unit was formed on December 1990 and helped reduce the crime rate in Mumbai by 70%.However, there were many human rights violations by this organization, from extreme means of torture to public shootings. The most infamous shooting was the 1991 Lokhandwala Complex shootout
1991 Lokhandwala Complex shootout
The 1991 Lokhandwala Complex shootout was a gunbattle that occurred on 16 November 1991 at the Lokhandwala Complex, Bombay , between seven gangsters led by Maya Dolas and members of the Mumbai police and the ATS led by the then Additional Commissioner of Police, Aftab Ahmed Khan...
, which occurred at Lokhandwala on November 16, 1991, based on which a 2007 Bollywood
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
movie Shootout at Lokhandwala
Shootout at Lokhandwala
Shootout at Lokhandwala is a 2007 Hindi feature film directed by Apoorva Lakhia. It is based upon the 1991 Lokhandwala Complex shootout, a real-life gun battle between gangsters and Mumbai Police....
was made. 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 January 29, 1993 following the termination of the program. One month later on March 12, 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 July 8, 2004 The stated objectives of ATS are
- To get information about anti-national elements working in any part of Maharashtra
- To co-ordinate with Central information agencies, like IB, RAW and exchange information with them
- To co-ordinate with similar agencies of other States
- To track and eliminate activities of mafia and other organized crime syndicates
- To detect rackets of counterfeit currency notes and smuggling narcotic substances
Branches
Several states in India have created ATS units in their respective police forces, including :- Mumbai (Maharashtra)MumbaiMumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
- AhmedabadAhmedabadAhmedabad also known as Karnavati is the largest city in Gujarat, India. It is the former capital of Gujarat and is also the judicial capital of Gujarat as the Gujarat High Court has its seat in Ahmedabad...
- Uttar PradeshUttar PradeshUttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
- RajasthanRajasthanRājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
November 2008 Mumbai attacks
The former ATS Chief Hemant KarkareHemant Karkare
Hemant Karkare was the chief of the Mumbai Anti-Terrorist Squad. He was killed during the 2008 Mumbai attacks after being shot three times in the chest...
was killed fighting terrorists on the 26th November, 2008, at the Cama & Albless Hospital in the Dhobi Talao area of Mumbai. Karkare was killed with other two officers: Additional commissioner Ashok Kamte
Ashok Kamte
Ashok Kamte was the Additional Commissioner of Mumbai Police for the East Region. He was killed in terrorist action during the 2008 Mumbai attacks. His bravery was honoured with the Ashoka Chakra on 26 January 2009....
and ‘encounter specialist’ Vijay Salaskar
Vijay Salaskar
Vijay Salaskar was a Senior Police Inspector and encounter specialist serving with the Mumbai police. He was widely credited with killing 75–80 criminals in encounters — most of these were members of the Arun Gawli gang...
. 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 Taj Mahal Palace (Hotel)& The Oberoi and Trident Nariman Point Hotels, where terrorists had killed 146 people, wounded at least 327, and taken at least 15 people hostage. Indians accounted for the majority of those attacked: 96 dead, at least 300 injured.
Karkare, a 1982 batch IPS officer, had returned to his state cadre after a seven-year tenure with the Research and Analysis Wing, Indian external intelligence agency, in Austria.
2009 shootout
After receiving a tip-off, ATS agents chased a Maruti 800Maruti 800
Maruti 800 is a city car manufactured by Maruti Suzuki in India. It is a rebadged version of an old model of the Suzuki Alto. Over 2.5 million Maruti 800s have been sold since its launch in 1983...
car bearing a 'UP' number-plate. During the chase, the terrorists shot at the police officers who retaliated, causing the car to hit the rear tire of the suspects' car, veering it off the road. ATS officers then took cover behind a roadblock and engaged the terrorists for 30 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.
Operational history
| Operation | Date | Location | KIA | Additional Comment/Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 Mumbai attacks 2008 Mumbai attacks The 2008 Mumbai attacks were more than 10 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks across Mumbai, India's largest city, by Islamist attackers who came from Pakistan... |
26 November 2008-29 November 2008 | Mumbai | Yes | ATS officers responded to the terrorists strike in Mumbai on [26/11]. ATS Chief Hemant Karkare Hemant Karkare Hemant Karkare was the chief of the Mumbai Anti-Terrorist Squad. He was killed during the 2008 Mumbai attacks after being shot three times in the chest... was killed while fighting the terrorists. |
| Noida shootout | 24 January 2009 | Noida Noida Noida , short for the New Okhla Industrial Development Area, is an area in India under the management of the New Okhla Industrial Development Authority . Noida came into administrative existence on 17 April 1976 and celebrates 17 April as "Noida Day". It was set up as part of an urbanization... , Delhi Delhi Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census... . |
NO | ATS car chase and subsequent shootout with two terrorists on the outskirts of Noida Noida Noida , short for the New Okhla Industrial Development Area, is an area in India under the management of the New Okhla Industrial Development Authority . Noida came into administrative existence on 17 April 1976 and celebrates 17 April as "Noida Day". It was set up as part of an urbanization... .ATS officer Sharma was wounded in the gunfight. |
| IMO IMO The three-letter acronym IMO may refer to:* International Mathematical Olympiad* International Maritime Organization** IMO ship identification number, unique identity numbers issued to seacraft * International Meteorological Organization... Violations at Alang Ship Breaking and DEA DEA DEA is the commonly used acronym for the Drug Enforcement Administration, a United States law enforcement agency.DEA or Dea may also refer to:- Organizations :* DEA , UK development education charity... Terrorists |
May 2010 - Ongoing | Mumbai, Alang, Delhi | NA | ATS has 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 SS Independence SS Independence was an ocean liner built in 1951 for American Export Lines. Between 1974 and 1982 she sailed as Oceanic Independence for Atlantic Far East Lines and American Hawaii Cruises, after which she reverted to her original name... and others. |
November 16, 1991, Lokhandwala Complex, ATS Killed 6 gangsters including Maya Dolas and Dilip Bhua, this shootout took place in Swati Building, Lokhandwala, Mumbai and lasted 4 hours with more than 450 rounds fired.
External links
- Down as of 2010
Official website - http://mahapolice.gov.in/mahapolice/jsp/temp/ats.jsp Official.