Context
A special NIA court sentenced an ISIS terrorist to seven years of rigorous imprisonment for conspiring to establish the proscribed organisation's base in India by radicalising and recruiting youths through social media platforms.
What is National Investigation Agency (NIA)?
- NIA is functioning as the Central Counter Terrorism Law Enforcement Agency in India.
- NIA Act, 2008 makes the National Investigation Agency the only truly federal agency in the country, along the lines of the FBI in the United States, more powerful than the CBI.
- It gives the NIA powers to take suo motucognisance of terror activities in any part of India and register a case, to enter any state without permission from the state government, and to investigate and arrest people.
- Section 11 of NIA Act empowers the centre, in consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court, to designate Court of Session as NIA Special Court for trial of schedule offences.
Important functions of the Agency
- In-depth investigation of scheduled offences
- Maintaining professional and cordial relations with the governments of States and Union Territories and other law enforcement agencies in compliance of the legal provisions of the NIA Act.
- Assist all States and other investigating agencies in investigation of terrorist cases.
- Build a data base on all terrorist related information and share the data base available with the States and other agencies.
- Study and analyze laws relating to terrorism in other countries and regularly evaluate the adequacy of existing laws in India and propose changes as and when necessary.
Schedule Offences
The NIA Act specifies a list of offences which are to be investigated and prosecuted by the NIA, as given below:
- The Explosive Substances Act, 1908
- The Atomic Energy Act, 1962
- The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967
- The Anti-Hijacking Act, 2016
- The Suppression of Unlawful Acts against Safety of Civil Aviation Act, 1982
- The SAARC Convention (Suppression of Terrorism) Act, 1993
- The Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against Safety of Maritime Navigation and Fixed Platforms on Continental Shelf Act, 2002
- The Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Act, 2005
- Other offences (i) human trafficking, (ii) offences related to counterfeit currency or bank notes, (iii) manufacture or sale of prohibited arms, (iv) cyber-terrorism
