Criticised for Patna blasts, Bihar govt to now set up ATS

Patna: The Bihar government has begun the process of setting up an Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said on Monday.[caption id="attachment_1223283" align="alignleft" width="380"] Investigators sanitize Gandhi Maidan in Patna after serial blasts. File photo/PTI[/caption]"Bihar Police has began the process to set up ATS soon," he told the media in Patna.Nitish Kumar denied reports that his government was soft in countering terrorist activities. "There is no such thing like being soft towards terrorists."Bihar Police chief Abhayanand said: "We are working to formally set up ATS."The cabinet approved a proposal to set up the ATS after July's serial bomb blasts at Bodh Gaya's Mahabodhi temple.The government has cleared the 344 posts for the ATS.An official in the home department said the ATS would be set up within four months.IANS