AP CM clears new anti-terror body

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Dr YS Rajasekhar Reddy on Friday cleared the proposal to set up the Anti-Terrorist Wing in the State Police. In the wake of the Maoists attack on Friday, the government also plans to step up security measures across the state. 

It has also been decided to upgrade and strengthen the intelligence department as proposed by additional DGP (Intelligence). The district and city special branches will also be upgraded and strengthened.

The new anti-terror body named 'Octopus' will be headed by an additional DGP and will have various wings. The existing Counter-Intelligence Cell is headed by additional DGP (Intelligence).

The functions of the new body include intelligence & analysis, intelligence collection (human) at sub-divisional level, district level, commissionerate and metro level and state level; technical intelligence: monitoring (communication), forensic and cyber-related; research & analysis: data interpretation, news analysis (print & electronic media), inter-agency coordination and planning.

It will also have experts, forensic scientists and dog squads. The meeting chaired by the chief minister also discussed the funds requirement for the new outfit, budget for executive and technical staff, recurring & non-recurring expenditure. The new wing will have 13,000 personnel, of which 4,000 will be recruited in the first phase.

The chief minister asked the police to come up with a comprehensive report to increase the basic policing the state taking into account the security of VVIPs.

Chief secretary J Harinarayana, DGP M A Basith, principal secretary to CM Jannat Hussain, and all top police officers attended the meeting.