HC moved for establishing ATS-QRF wing in Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: A litigant has approached the Madras High Court with a plea to establish the Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) - Quick Reaction Force (QRF) in Tamil Nadu to prevent the terror attacks "which would materialise due to the political instabilities in the neighboring countries."

The first bench of Madras High Court comprising Acting Chief Justice T Raja and Justice D Krishnakumar will hear the matter on Monday.

The petitioner is an advocate named B Jagannath, who alleged that after Talibans captured Afghanistan, political chaos in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, India should be on high alert.

"As Tamil Nadu is sharing sea border with Sri Lanka, it is much needed for Tamil Nadu to establish its Anti Terrorist Squad and Quick Reaction Force immediately to counter the terrorist attacks," the petitioner said in his affidavit.

He further submitted that though Q Branch and Special Division to deal with the radical terrorism and LTTE are there, they are having only the information gathering and investigation powers.

"The minor gaps that exist between the above said two wings most definitely and significantly prove costly while dealing with the anti terror operations especially during the quick reaction scenarios against the radical and other terrorist threats.

He also said that an Anti Terrorist Squad - Quick Reaction Force if established and operational by the Tamil Nadu could be a significant and phenomenal game changer as the said ATS QRF could be the one nodal coordinating contact point operational agency at State-level for agencies in various other states and with the central government.