NIA - POLITY
News: Rajouri
terror attacks: NIA team visits Dangri village
What's in the news?
● A
team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) visited the attack site at
Rajouri, where militants killed six civilians in twin attacks recently.
What is the NIA?
● It
is a central agency mandated to
investigate all the offences affecting the sovereignty,
security and integrity of India, friendly relations with foreign states and the
offences under the statutory laws enacted to implement international
treaties, agreements, conventions and resolutions of the United Nations, its
agencies and other International organizations.
● These
include terror acts and their possible links with crimes like smuggling of
arms, drugs and take Indian currency and infiltration from across the borders.
● The
agency has the power to search, seize, arrest and prosecute those involved in
such offences.
Scheduled Offence under the Jurisdiction of NIA:
● The
list includes the Explosive Substances Act, Atomic Energy Act, Unlawful Activities
(Prevention) Act, Anti- Hijacking Act, Suppression of Unlawful Acts against
Safety of Civil Aviation Act, SAARC
Convention(Suppression of Terrorism) Act, Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against
Safety of Maritime Navigation and Fixed
Platforms on Continental Shelf Act, Weapons of Mass Destruction and
their Delivery Systems (prohibition of Unlawful activities) Act and relevant
offences under the Indian Penal Code, Arms Act and the Information Technology Act.
● In
September 2020, the Centre empowered the NIA to also probe offences under the
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act that are connected to terror
cases.
How does the NIA take up cases?
● As
provided under Section 6 of the Act, State Governments can refer the cases
pertaining to the scheduled offences registered at any police station to the
Central Government (Union Home Ministry) for NIA investigation. After assessing
the details made available, the center can then direct the agency to take over
the case.
● When
the Central government is of the opinion that a scheduled Offence has been
committed which is required to be investigated under the Act, it may suo motu direct the agency to take up/over
the probe.
Territorial Jurisdiction:
● The
law under which the agency operates extends to the whole of India and also
applies to Indian citizens outside the
country.
● Persons
in the service of the government wherever they are posted.
● Persons
on ships and aircraft registered in India wherever they may be.
● Persons
who commit a scheduled Offence beyond India against the India citizen or
affecting the interest of India.
Go back to basics:
NIA:
● The
National Investigation Agency (NIA) is a statutory entity that works under the Ministry of Home Affairs administrative
jurisdiction.
● It
was introduced by the then-home minister in the aftermath of the 26/11 Mumbai
terrorist attacks and passed with little resistance in Parliament.
● The
NIA was established as a result of the NIA
Act, which was adopted on December 31, 2008.
● Currently,
the NIA serves as India's Central
Counter-Terrorism Law Enforcement Agency.