Panaji: After several flip-flops, Goa has
decided to go ahead with its proposed Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), a specialised unit conceived to combat any possible
terrorist attack in the coastal state.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, emerging from the first
ever high level meeting of the police department here, said
the ATS is very much on cards as it is the requirement of
modern day policing.
"This is a specialised cell which is required for the
state. We should have cells like ATS and Coastal Security
Police, which are specially made to deter terrorists,"
Parrikar told reporters on Sunday evening.
The process to form ATS was suspended by former Home
Minister Ravi Naik, when it was half way through. Then the
government had claimed that existing police will be trained to
counter terrorist activities.
Goa has been regularly receiving intelligence inputs
about being probable target of terrorists considering the
thick presence of international travelers here.
Parrikar has directed the police department to avoid any
rough treatment to people approaching them with complaints.
"I have instructed them not to be rough with the people
and also not to skip filing first information report (FIR).
I don`t mind even if my detection rate is reflected as less
due to large number of FIRs filed. I want that each complaint
should be investigated with seriousness," he said.
The Home Minister has also ordered the department to
crackdown on drug trade from the state`s coastline.
The Anti-Narcotic Cell (ANC), a specialised unit which is
already in service, has been asked to gather intelligence on
narcotic trade in Goa.
Parrikar admitted that there were some infrastructure
issues faced by the department, which would be settled soon.
"They (police) also had some problems. It is like they
have a gun but no bullets," he commented.
Goa police in past has received bad name for their
involvement in drug trade and even sex scams.
PTI
