'Haryana Will Set Up Anti-Terror Squad': Anil Vij Cites Grenade Attack In Mohali, Karnal Arrests

The Haryana Home Minister, according to a statement, said there is a need to increase security in the state.

Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij (File Photo: Getty)

New Delhi: Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij on Wednesday said the state government will set up an Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) comprising officials of the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) and Superintendent of Police (SP) rank, PTI reported. His remarks came just days after a rocket-propelled grenade was fired targeting a police building at Mohali in neighbouring Punjab. Vij said metal detectors will be installed at all crowded places and busy markets in Haryana as part of enhanced security measures. He asked the senior officials to ensure all important buildings in the state are covered by CCTV cameras.

The Haryana Home Minister, according to a statement, said there is a need to increase security in the state.

The statement added that Vij made these remarks in view of the explosion at the intelligence wing headquarters in Mohali and the recent arrest of four suspected Pakistan-linked terrorists who were nabbed with explosives in Haryana’s Karnal.

Vij said that he has directed the police officials to further strengthen security measures in the state in the wake of the Karnal and Mohali incidents.

“From the security point of view, Anti-Terror Squad will be formed, in which DIG and SP rank officers will be included,” the news agency quoted Vij as saying while presiding over a meeting on security-related matters with officials of the home and police department in Chandigarh.

The Haryana Home Minister said the state government is ready to offer any help to Punjab in this matter.

“Our senior officers will be meeting their Punjab counterparts soon,” he told reporters after the meeting held in the wake of Karnal and Mohali incidents, according to the news agency.

Vij said a constant watch is being kept on the activities of the terrorists and anti-social elements.

He directed the police to keep an eye on those trying to spread anti-national messages by posting objectionable videos on social media.

Stating that the entire discussion was related to security matters, Vij said a drive will be conducted throughout Haryana to ensure the house-owners, who have let out their premises on rent have got police verification of their tenants done

Referring to Khalistan flags being put up on the main gate of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly building, Vij said he has directed officials to ensure all important buildings in Haryana are covered by functional CCTV cameras.

He added that he would also appeal to common people, traders and social organisations to install CCTV cameras.

Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Rajeev Arora, who was also present in the meeting along with Director General of Police (DGP) P.K. Agrawal and senior officials, informed that security audit of police establishments and key government buildings would be conducted to counter any untoward incident.

Earlier on Monday, a rocket-propelled grenade was fired at the third floor of the highly-guarded building in Mohali’s Sector 77 at 7.45 p.m.

Nobody was, however, injured in this audacious attack, which sent the state in a high alert mode.

Four terror suspects -- all residents of Punjab – were arrested near the Bastara toll plaza in Karnal earlier on Friday after the Haryana Police intercepted them.