Hours after HC rap, ATS gets new chief

Home minister Jayant Patil on Thursday appointed KP Raghuvanshi as chief of the anti-terrorism squad (ATS) hours after the Bombay high court directed it to fill up the top post within four weeks.

Raghuvanshi comes in place of Hemant Karkare, who was killed in the  26/11 attack in Mumbai. “The challenge of becoming the ATS chief is serious. I will try to do my best,” said Raghuvanshi, who is in New Delhi on a fortnight’s leave.

Earlier, the HC reprimanded the state government for not appointing a chief to the elite squad even seven months after Mumbai witnessed its “worst terror attack”.

Government pleader Satish Borulkar had told the court that after Karkare was killed, additional director general of police (railways) Raghuvanshi held additional charge as ATS chief. “There is no leader? Somebody who looks after railways is holding additional charge as ATS chief?” the court had asked. Chief justice Swatanter Kumar and justice SC Dharmadhikari had said this was the “greatest demoralising factor in the (police) force”. 

Dharmadhikari had asked, “The chief of police says the post of ATS chief is vacant as there is no officer willing to take charge? You (state government) seek the willingness of people for such high posts?”

The judges had said, “We are very sorry to know that as of today even the head of ATS has not been appointed by the state. It was more than seven months back that Mumbai witnessed its worst terror attack.”

The court had felt there was a “lack of will” on the government’s part to appoint the fittest of officers to head the ATS. The court directed the government to take steps towards the new appointment.

The court had asked the government if it had purchased bullet-proof jackets, cars and weapons for the ATS. Having read about a bullet-proof jacket scam in newspapers, the judges had asked, “Are the jackets you provide actually bullet-proof?” Borulkar had told the court that the tenders issued were not proper and new tenders had been issued.
Seeking instructions from the jt secy, home, who was present in court, Borulkar had told the court that the officer was not aware about that. “The fact that he doesn’t know indicates how serious you are,” Kumar had said.