The Goa police has formed a dedicated intelligence wing for its Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS), considering the rising perception about terror threat to the coastal tourist State in recent times.
T.N. Mohan, Director General of Police said here on Wednesday that the special intelligence unit for the ATS has been formed as the police intend to give more importance and larger focus on anti-terror activities.
By increasing the strength of ATS, they have placed spotters at strategic places including marketplaces, places frequented by tourists including Old Goa, the beach belt and other places, party joints in coastal belt, etc.
The Goa unit of the ATS, which was sanctioned by the government around three months back has an armed component, an executive component besides the intelligence gathering unit. The unit will work full time in gathering information on terror related activities.
The battalion has also been given new weapons and other equipments to effectively do their job.
He said that the police have been giving a thrust to keep the activities of individuals from certain States under the scanner and aspects like tenant verification needed fulltime attention in view of the looming spectrum of terror in recent times, he said.
“We need a special group of people looking at it continuously,” said Mr. Mohan.
Following sanction from the State government to an anti terrorism squad on a permanent basis around a month back.
Simultaneously, the State police has also increased the frequency of inter-State meetings of officials in recent times with Maharashtra and Karnataka to share aspects of crime as well as potential for terror activities in the neighbouring State.
Former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is on record in the State Legislative Assembly over a year back when he had described Goa as a “resting place” for unwanted elements and terrorists thereby underscoring the need for more police and intelligence vigilance in the coastal tourist State of international repute.