The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (UP-ATS) is soon set to deploy the first-of-its-kind all-women police squad. A power statement of equal opportunities and status in the police department, the new force will be known as SPOT, which stands for Special Police Operation Team. Reportedly, the unit will consist of 58 women personnel, including a dog squad, a bomb disposal squad and a wireless trapping team.
SPOT to function as an expert, trained and skilled unit of UP-ATS
A senior officer of the Uttar Pradesh Anti Terrorist Squad said that the department has tabled a proposal for the same before the government. Currently awaiting the administration’s green flag, this draft includes the inputs and budget reviews of the Home Department officials, read reports.
This new women squad formation will fan the idea of increased representation of females at workplaces. It is also expected to boost women safety in sensitive areas. The unit will also help to carry out rescue operations and taking on women trouble makers, added reports.
The SPOT will function as a specialised unit, trained to tackle anti-hijacking and counter-insurgency operations like terror attacks. The force will have a batch of commandos trained by experts of BSF, CISF, ITBP and other paramilitary forces to uphold the pillars of agile skills and prowess. ATS Inspector General G.K. Goswami said that SPOT would also conduct security surveys during peacetime and train special weapons advanced tactics teams of the district police.
Uttar Pradesh to nurture 3 all-women battalions
While the concept of a specialised unit of the ATS was first raised in 2018, this unit exclusively comprised of men. However, the state has started to branch out to raise 3 all-women battalions, on the directives of the Chief Minister.
SPOT has an exclusive training centre in Sarojini Nagar in Lucknow and the ADG, Law and Order, Prashant Kumar said that a proposal has been sent to the government to raise more units of SPOT in Varanasi, Agra, Kheri, and Shravasti.
