NIA now has 18 branches across India
National Investigation Agency (NIA) has increased to 18 branches across the country from nine in 2019, when Amit Shah took charge of the Union home ministry, while proposals for 10 more branches are pending with the ministry, said officials.
The manpower for the NIA has also been enhanced, as the ministry recently approved creation of one post of additional director general and six new inspector generals of police for the agency, they said.
Set up in 2008 after Mumbai terrorist attacks, the agency first planned to have its headquarters in New Delhi, with regional offices in state capitals, but as the number of terrorism cases climbed up, more branches were proposed and manpower has been sanctioned, said a home ministry official.
According to the ministry, the anti-terrorism agency is investigating 510 cases, including several related to Unlawful Activities (Prevention)Act and is at the forefront of the crackdown on pro-Khalistan elements in India and abroad.
Among the new branches are Raipur, Ranchi, Ahmedabad, Chennai and Lucknow, while branches in Kochi, Hyderabad and Guwahati have been dealing with an increasing number of cases related to ISIS radicalisation. The crackdown on Popular Front of India was carried out by NIA with the help of state police and the agency is investigating 106 functionaries and cadres of PFI, which was banned by the ministry last year.
«The NIA, since its inception, has registered 497 cases, till December last year, out of which, 389 cases have been charge-sheeted. Trial has been concluded in 115 cases, out of which 108 cases have resulted in conviction,» as per the home ministry.
«All anti-terror agencies will have to adopt a ruthless approach,» Shah recently said.
