New Delhi: Federal Home Minister P. Chidambaram announced that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) would probe yesterday's terror attack outside Delhi High Court.
A 20-member team of NIA investigators was at the spot within half an hour of the blast taking place near gate five of the building.
The NIA was set up in the wake of November 21, 2008 terror attack on the western metropolis Mumbai to investigate acts of terror.
Jurisdiction
NIA has pan-India jurisdiction. Unlike the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which cannot probe any case until it is referred to it by the concern of state authorities, NIA can take up any terror-related investigation on its own.
NIA draws its officers from various state police on permanent deputation. Its ground-level staff are drawn from federal security forces, although of late the organisation has started recruiting its staff directly as well.
It is based in the national capital New Delhi and is headed by a director-general level officer. S.K. Sinha, the present holder of the position is the second chief of the organisation.
Besides probing terror attacks, the NIA, a brainchild of Chidambaram, is also empowered to take up the investigation of any act challenging the national sovereignty, hijacking of aircraft and ships and attacks of nuclear establishments.
NIA also deals in cases related to counterfeit currency, human trafficking, narcotics and drugs, organised crime and weapons of mass destruction.
