Lucknow: The Government of Uttar Pradesh has initiated the process to establish an anti-terrorist command unit (ATS) in Deoband in Saharanpur.
The government has allocated 2,000 square meters of land for the construction of administrative buildings and plans to post around 20 senior officers at the Institute.
At present, ATS ATS with headquarters in Lucknow, has its units in 17 countries.
Two additions were recently made in Bahraich and Shraverti.
Deoband will be an 18 ATS unit.
Director General of Police additional police, law and orders, Prashant Kumar, said that ATS and STF were in the mood of expansion in the state.
“We have allocated 2000 square meters of land by Uttar Pradesh Small Industries Corporation Limited (Upsic) in Deoband to establish a unit,” Kumar said.
Kumar further added that the ATS unit was planned at Deoband because of its strategic location – falling in the state border area.
“It will also increase depth, operational capability, and strength in the western region,” ADG said.
The officer also said that other units would come near the proposed Noida International Airport.
Location selection for ATS units is being carried out in fields that are strategically important, he added.
Inspector General ATS, Gajendra Kumar Goswamy, said that the new unit ATS will appear in Deoband.
“We have established a similar unit recently in the Bahraich District and Shraverti country,” he said.
The Special Police Operations Unit (place) ATS will be deployed in the unit along with small units for intelligence collection and carry out small operations.
The officer also said that ATS already had a training center in the Anora Sarojininagar area.
He also said that efforts were also being carried out to have one unit in the Varanasi, Mirzapur, Azamgarh and Kheri area.
Other officials who know the secret of the development say that the unit in Deoband will consist of dog troops, bomb disposal forces, and wireless trap units along with a group of combat units.
They also revealed that the project in Deoband was approved two years ago.