Shah urges uniform structure for ATS

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday urged a uniform structure for Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) for the police across the country. Pointing ATS’s role as extremely important, he also directed all Director Generals of Police from the States to implement it as soon as possible. He was inaugurating the ‘Anti-Terrorism Conference-2025’.

Shah launched two databases — the Organised Crime Network Database and the Weapons Database for lost, looted and recovered arms — hosted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).  The databases are meant to be used by law enforcement agencies across the country.  The Home Minister said a new plan to launch "a 360-degree assault on organised crime" would be brought in the coming days, and that these databases would form "a core asset of the zero-terror policy."

He said that the Jammu and Kashmir Police conducted an excellent investigation into the explosion that occurred in Delhi. The HM said three tonnes of explosives were recovered before it could be used, and the entire team involved in conspiring this plot was apprehended before the Delhi blast could take place. He said that the investigation of this entire network was carried out very effectively by all our agencies and said the Red Fort attacker carried 40 kg explosives. The Home Minister said that the NIA has worked very hard to create a common ATS structure and has sent it to the police forces of the States.  

He explained that when we establish a common ATS structure across the entire country, it provides us an opportunity for uniform preparation at every level.

Home Minister said that all states’ ATS units should use  National Integrated Database on Arrested Narco-Offenders (NIDAAN) and NATGRID or National Intelligence Grid. He said that using NIDAAN and NATGRID in investigations ensures that cases are not investigated in isolation, but also brings to light the invisible links in the cases. He emphasized that the use of NATGRID should be made mandatory in certain types of investigations, and the use of NIDAAN should be made mandatory in certain types of cases.

Shaha said that active participation in the Multi Agency Centre and the National Memory Bank should be ensured. He said that the common ATS structure and operational uniformity give us an advantage in prosecuting terrorists. Unless we achieve operational uniformity, we cannot make an accurate assessment of threats, make proper use of intelligence sharing, or carry out coordinated counter-actions. He emphasised that we must ensure uniformity from investigation to prosecution and counter-action.

 Addressing the two-day conference attended by top police and central agencies officers from across the country, Shah highlighted links between organised criminals and terrorists. "Organised crime networks initially operate for the purpose of ransom and extortion, but when their leaders flee abroad and settle there, they automatically come into contact with terrorist organisations and then use the proceeds from ransom and extortion to spread terrorism within the country," he said, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

 Every state must, under the guidance of the NIA and CBI, with the cooperation of the IB, and by utilising this database, eliminate it within their jurisdiction, Shah said. He said that everyone should move forward with the principle of ‘Duty to Share’ instead of ‘Need to Know.’ Central agencies and State police have made good use of technology at their level, but technology developed in silos and data collected in silos are like a gun without bullets, the statement quoted him as saying.

Shah said it is better if all data can communicate with each other and are created using the same technology.  "For this purpose, the Ministry of Home Affairs, NIA, and IB should hold discussions to develop a seamless national-level framework for technology and data, and should support the states in strengthening it," he said. The HM said the database of terrorists and criminals should be made a core asset of the zero-terror policy.

 Shah said he expects the director generals of police to implement the database framework in letter and spirit.  In the coming days, Shah said, the country would bring a plan to launch a "360-degree assault on organised crime."  The Home Minister said a new standard of coordination, cooperation, and communication has been developed among the DGP Conference, Security Strategy Conference, N-CORD meetings, and the Anti-Terror Conference. "We cannot view these four pillars in isolation; running through them as a common thread is the Anti-Terrorism Conference," Shah said.