In the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, a proposal is being made to set up a first-of-its-kind Anti-Terrorist Squad (UP ATS) that will consist of an all-women police squad.
This special squad will be named Special Police Operation Team and will include 58 personnel, including a dog squad, a bomb disposal team, and a wireless trapping unit (SPOT).
After discussion with the Home Department officials, a senior officer at UP ATS said that a proposal has been sent to the government for approval and budgeting.
Once approved, this specialized force will be trained and equipped to deal with anti-hijacking and counter-insurgency activities such as terrorist attacks. Experts from the BSF, CISF, ITBP and other paramilitary forces would train those chosen to join the SPOT commandos.
The UP ATS officer said the idea to raise an all-women squad with specialized training was based on increasing representation of women at workplaces and their deployment at sensitive locations and help carry out rescue operations and tackling women troublemakers would also be easier with this squad.
ATS Inspector General G.K. Goswami said that SPOT would also perform security surveys during peacetime and train special weapons advanced tactics teams of district police.
SPOT is a specialized unit of ATS. The first unit raised in 2018 comprised men only and its exclusive training center is located in Sarojini Nagar in Lucknow.
Meanwhile, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is in the process to raise three all-women battalions which have already begun.
Click here to subscribe to The Commune on Telegram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.