Patna, July 9: The cabinet today gave its nod to the constitution of an anti-terrorist squad (ATS) in the state, almost four-and-a-half years after the police headquarters submitted the proposal to the state government.

The nod comes in the wake of the serial blasts in Bodhgaya on Sunday, in which two monks were injured.

Cabinet secretary Brajesh Mehrotra said: “The ATS will consist of 344 personnel and the state government will spend Rs 15.3 crore per year on the squad.”

The day the proposal for the ATS was cleared, identity proof was made mandatory for tourists visiting the Mahabodhi temple.