Front Page   

Bills on anti-terror law, NIA introduced

NEW DELHI: The government on Tuesday introduced two Bills in the Lok Sabha — one to set up a National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the other to amend the law to bring in more stringent provisions to deal with terror crimes.

The National Investigation Agency Bill 2008 and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill, 2008 were moved by Home Minister P. Chidambaram. The Cabinet cleared them on Monday.

The amendment bill, among other things, has deterrent provisions such as detention without bail for up to 180 days and the enhanced penalty of life imprisonment for those involved in terror.

The NIA, in a concurrent jurisdiction framework, will take up cases under specific Acts for investigation. It will have provisions for setting up of special courts which will have hearings on a day-to-day basis. A case pending in a special court can be transferred to any such court. The superintendence of the agency shall vest with the Centre.

It empowers the Central government to decide what constitutes terror and investigate such attacks in any part of the country covering offences, including challenge to country’s sovereignty and integrity, bomb blasts, hijacking of aircraft and ships and attacks on nuclear facilities.

The NIA Bill says there has been innumerable terror attacks, not only in the militancy and insurgency affected areas and regions affected by Left wing extremism, but also in the form of attacks and bomb blasts in major cities.

A large number of such incidents were found to have complex inter-State and international linkages and possible connection with activities such as smuggling or arms, drugs, pushing in and circulation of fake Indian currency and infiltration.

“Keeping all these in view, it has for long been felt that there is need for setting up an Agency at the Central level for investigation of offences related to terrorism and certain other Acts, which have national ramifications,” the Bill said.

Notwithstanding law and order being a State subject, NIA officers above the rank of sub-inspector will have special powers to pursue and investigate any terror offence.

Stories in this Section

Bills on anti-terror law, NIA introduced
BJP backs bill with a rider
No-fly zone over Kalpakkam plant
Pranab, Antony want Pakistan to act
University, college teachers pay revised
Non-state actors our responsibility: Zardari
Sena, BJP want 'fitting reply' to Pakistan
Sixth phase of J&K elections today
Gilani for normalising ties
Police remand for Rahirkar
Rahul Bajaj and Brinda Karat clash over conflict of interest
What went wrong for the Englishmen?
“No request from Ajmal”
South Africa hopes to challenge Australia at the WACA
Surya Shekhar Ganguly starts favourite
Sachin Tendulkar played anchor and mentor
Government hints at further fuel price cut
DMK names candidate for bypoll
Rs.20-crore flood relief for Puducherry
Unmanned robotic ground vehicles being developed
FDI has dropped, says Kamal Nath
Sensex retraces 10000-level
2 trillion tonnes of ice have melted since 2003: NASA
Somnath recommends probe against three
4 lakh birds culled
Dynamite planted at store in Paris
Coastal Security Group for more check-posts
Wild elephant caught, search on for three more near Dubare forest
Sirumalai Dam to be ready by next month
Party guidelines will apply for Lok Sabha election, says Sonia
Upcoming actress Bhargavi ‘murdered’
AIADMK asks Speaker to disqualify Selvam

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu