The Central government informed the Parliament session on Tuesday that it had widened the scope of the ISIS Investigation Research Cell (IIRC) in the NIA to other theatres of terrorism and renamed it as the Counter Terrorism Research Cell (CTRC).
There are other sub-cells — such as the Anti Human Trafficking Division (AHTD), Anti Cyber Terrorism Division (ACTD), Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Cell, Financial Analysis Unit (FAU) and a Special Cell comprising legal experts — have been created in the NIA, said the Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha. Also, a specialised unit — the National Terror Data Fusion and Analysis Centre (NTDFAC) — has been established in the intelligence agency for enabling big data analytics and facilitating the automation and digitisation of the various investigative processes and procedures that will strengthen supervision and enhance efficiency, consistency and accountability.
"The Government has created the ISIS Investigation Research Cell (IIRC) in NIA in January 2018 and broadened its scope to other theatres of terrorism and renamed it as Counter Terrorism Research Cell (CTRC)," Rai said.
"Further, the mandate of NIA has also been expanded to investigate offences related to the Explosive Substances Act, 1908, Human Trafficking, Cyber Terrorism and Arms Act, 1959. Footprint of NIA has been expanded pan India, by establishing 21 branch offices in different parts of the country, with 02 Zonal Offices (in Guwahati and Jammu) and Headquarters at Delhi," the minister said in his reply.
National Investigation Agency, NIA, is the principal counter-terrorism law enforcement agency in India.
Follow us
