Mammootty plays the role of an Anti-Terror Squad officer named Kedarnath. Jayaraj said, "Mammootty's character may remind you of the late ATS chief Hemant Karkare, who lost his life during the terror attacks that rocked Mumbai city on November 26 in 2008. There is another important character, Karthik, played by Youth Star Jayasurya. Karthik is a track singer who is also a great fan of A.R. Rahman. He boards the train on the ill-fated day with dreams in his heart. He is in love with a girl, who he met on the train, and they decide to meet on July 11 at 6 pm. Jagathy Sreekumar plays a corrupt ATS officer, Saikumar is essaying the role of a Cyber-Cell officer while KPAC Lalitha and Sabitha have pivotal roles," explains the acclaimed director.
About ATS
The
Anti-Terrorism Squad is a force of about 30 to 35 police officers in Mumbai, India. The
ATS, as they are commonly known, also have branches in different states throughout the country. In Maharashtra it was headed by senior IPS officer K.P. Raghuvanshi.[1] The Squad has stopped several terrorist attacks in the country.
The then Additional Commissioner of Mumbai Police Aftab Ahmed Khan, popularly known as A.A.Khan, is the founder of ATS He was inspired by Los Angeles Police Department's Special Weapons & Tactics (SWAT) to take control over modern-day terrorism. After its formation in 1990, ATS's officers won 23 gallantry awards. The Antiterrorism Squad was involved in 26 November hostage rescue operations in multiple locations in Mumbai, India, including the 5 star Taj hotel and the Oberoi Trident hotel, but was found to be extremely incompetent in terror attacks of such magnitude.
Termination and Reformation
This special unit was formed on December 1990 and helped reduce the crime rate in Mumbai by 70%. However, there were many human rights violations by this organization, from extreme means of torture to public shootings. The most infamous shooting was the 1991 Lokhandwala Complex shootout, which occurred at Lokhandwala on November 16, 1991, based on which a 2007 Bollywood movieShootout at Lokhandwala was made. The organization was terminated in January 1993. The leader of this program, A.A-Khan, was transferred as the ICP Anti Naxalite division to Nagpur on January 29, 1993 following the termination of the program. One month later on March 12, 1993 the Bombay blasts occurred, and the crime rate has increased since then.
As per the information available on the official website of Mumbai Police, ATS was created by the Government of Maharashtra, vide G.R. No. SAS-10/03/15/SB-IV, dated July 8, 2004[2] The stated objectives of ATS are
- To get information about anti-national elements working in any part of Maharashtra
- To co-ordinate with Central information agencies, like IB, RAW and exchange information with them
- To co-ordinate with similar agencies of other States
- To track and eliminate activities of mafia and other organized crime syndicates
- To detect rackets of counterfeit currency notes and smuggling narcotic substances
November 2008 Mumbai attacks
The former ATS Chief Hemant Karkare was killed fighting terrorists on the 26th November, 2008, at the Cama & Albless Hospital in the Dhobi Talao area of Mumbai. Karkare was killed with other two officers: Additional commissioner Ashok Kamte and ‘encounter specialist’ Vijay Salaskar. He was among the 14 police officials killed while fighting terrorists in Mumbai.
The terrorists had holed up in many heritage locations of Mumbai, such as Taj Mahal Palace (Hotel)& The Oberoi and Trident Nariman Point Hotels, where terrorists had killed 146 people, wounded at least 327, and taken at least 15 people hostage. Indians accounted for the majority of those attacked: 96 dead, at least 300 injured.
Karkare, a 1982 batch IPS officer, had returned to his state cadre after a seven-year tenure with the Research and Analysis Wing, Indian external intelligence agency, in Austria.
2009 shootout
After receiving a tip-off, ATS agents chased a Maruti 800 car bearing a 'UP' number-plate. During the chase, the terrorists shot at the police officers who retaliated, causing the car to hit the rear tire of the suspects' car, veering it off the road. ATS officers then took cover behind a roadblock and engaged the terrorists for 30 minutes in a fierce gun-battle. Officer Vinod Kumar sustained a bullet injury during the gunfight. The two terrorists ceased firing after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds and succumbed to their injuries while they were rushed to the hospital.
