Green light for Goa Anti-Terrorism Squad

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 travellers 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.