NSG asks Home Ministry for special power to arrest terrorists

Country's elite force NSG has asked the Home Ministry to grant it special power to make arrest under anti-terror law during active action, an authority the commando force had under the now defunct TADA.

The National Security Guard, which already has powers under the Criminal Procedure Act (CrPC) to arrest anyone including a terrorist, during an operation, has now sent a reminder to the Union Home Ministry to legally place it alongside other agencies like Delhi Police, listed under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).

"The NSG always had the powers to arrest. But the force has asked for renewal of these powers as the TADA has been repealed and UAPA has since taken over," reliable sources in the force said.

The NSG, according to sources, can arrest any person during its active operational duty and then hand him/her over to the local police.

"All counter-terror and counter-hijack operations are now covered under the UAPA and the force has asked the Home Ministry to designate it as an agency under the Act alongside other agencies," they said.

The Home Ministry, however, has not communicated its decision to the force yet but sources said that this will happen soon and that it was a "matter of some time".