UP govt’s SPOT to have snipers to take on criminals

LUCKNOW: The special police operation team (SPOT) being raised by the Uttar Pradesh government will have snipers armed with sophisticated weapons to take on terrorists, Maoists and criminal gangs active in the state.

Expert shooters in the police force, known for accurate firing, will be inducted in SPOT as snipers.

The team will also have bomb disposal and dog squads to assist the commandoes during action. Besides carrying night operations, it will be capable of carrying out anti-hijacking operations.

The state government has sanctioned Rs 110 crore for the SPOT.

Commandoes of the team will be dropped by helicopters in difficult terrains to carry out operations.

SPOT will be raised within the anti-terrorist squad (ATS) – the state’s premier police agency.

“SPOT will work at par with the National Security Guards (NSG) at the state-level,” said IG, ATS, Asim Arun.

The state government has sanctioned 694 posts in SPOT which will have nine commando teams. While three teams will undergo regular training, four others will be stationed at Agra, Varanasi, Gorakhpur and Ghaziabad.

Two teams will be stationed at the headquarters located near the Amausi airport.

The commandoes for the team will be selected from the state civil police and the Police Armed Constabulary (PAC).

They will undergo a threemonth training and will given 30 per cent extra allowances after their inclusion in the SPOT.

“The decision to set up SPOT was taken to create state-level police operation team to carry out operations across the state. Along with improving basic police tactics, training to Special Weapon and Tactics (SWAT) unit working at district level, the SPOT will also be deployed for VIP security,” he said.

A DIG-rank officer will head the SPOT under the direction of IG (ATS) and ADG (ATS).

“The state government has also decided to strengthen the ATS. In view of the intelligence, vigilance, training and investigation works done by the ATS, 316 new posts have been created in the organisation,” Arun said.

SPOT will work at par with the National Security Guards (NSG) at the statelevel ASIM ARUN, IG ATS