NIA to have new HQ complex on Tuesday

Nearly nine years after it came into existence, the anti-terror probe agency NIA will have its own multi-storied headquarters complex here from Tuesday, the home ministry said today.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which was set up after the 2008 Mumbai terror attack as the central counterterrorism investigation organisation, was given the mandate to investigate serious offences related to terrorist activities affecting the sovereignty, security and integrity of the country.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh will inaugurate the new headquarters complex of the NIA at Lodhi Road here on October 10 in the presence of ministers of state for home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir and Kiren Rijiju, a home ministry statement said.

The NIA is investigating crimes that have national and international ramifications and the agency has an all-India jurisdiction.

The NIA started functioning on January 19, 2009. The first case was assigned to NIA in June 2009, and by the end of July 2017, a total 166 cases have been assigned to the NIA for investigation.

These cases cover the entire spectrum of terrorism-related challenges relevant to India and have involved investigative efforts in 26 states and union territories.

Out of the 166 breakup cases, 63 cases pertain to 'jihadi' terrorism, 25 to terrorist acts by North East insurgents, 41 to cases of terror financing and fake currency, 13 to cases involving Left-wing extremism while the remaining 24 cases relate to other miscellaneous terrorist acts or gangs.

The investigations conducted by the NIA have helped unearth an entire range of illegal activities involving terror funding to specific incidents of terror, including the killing of innocent persons, the statement said.

The NIA, which came into existence on December 31, 2008, initially began operations in Hotel Centaur, New Delhi, and thereafter shifted its headquarters to the NDCC-II Building, Jai Singh Road, New Delhi, in June 2013.

In addition to the headquarters, the agency has expanded its geographical outreach through a network of branch offices located at Lucknow, Hyderabad, Kochi, Guwahati, Mumbai, Kolkata, Raipur and Jammu.

Apart from these, the NIA also has camp offices at Chandigarh, Srinagar, Chennai, Bangalore, Vishakhapatnam, Ahmedabad, Bharuch, Jagdalpur, Patna, Siliguri, Malda, Ranchi, Vijayawada and Imphal.

The Ministry of Urban Development allotted 1.0356 acres (4,191 sqm) of land opposite CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi at a cost of Rs.22.78 lacs on December 23, 2013, for construction of the office complex of the NIA.

The foundation stone of the NIA headquarters was laid by the home minister on September 10, 2015, and the work has been completed within the stipulated period of 24 months.