K'taka govt to form anti-terrorist force for Bangalore

Gulbarga, Aug 1 (UNI) Taking a cue from the neighbouring Maharashtra, the Karnataka government will constitute an ''Anti Terrorist Force'' to protect Bangalore city, the IT hub of India, which had seen increased presence of terror groups and its supporters.

Informing this at a press conference here Home Minister M P Prakash said the force would comprises trained commandos.

''Initially the anti terrorist force would be limited to the Bangalore city,'' he said.

He said that the Centre and the Karnataka government would be jointly setting up 'Indian Reserve Battalion'. The battalion would consist over 1000 personnel and 263 acres of land had been acquired at Munirabad in Bellary district to set up its headquarters.

Mr Prakash said Rs 35 crore had been earmarked to modernise the State Fire Services. 55 taluq head quarters did not have fire service stations and 35 of them would be allocated fire service stations soon, he added.

He said that the police stations located in the naxal affected areas would be strengthened.

Earlier, delivering as lecture at an educational institute Mr Prakash said that the government would urge Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who is visiting Karnataka tomorrow to sanction a Central University'' in the backward Gulbarga district.

UNI