Lok Sabha passes central terror agency bill
NIA, which would be headed by a Director General, would deal with offences of terrorism, counterfeit currency and hijacking. In Pics: How Kasab was caught
By Agencies |
NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the National Investigation Agency Bill. Now the bill will be put before the Rajya Sabha for final clearance.
Earlier, with BJP extending support to a central agency to investigate terror crimes, the Manmohan Singh government moved swiftly on Tuesday to introduce a bill to set up a National Investigation Agency backed by tough anti-terror laws within 15 hours of obtaining approval of the Union Cabinet.
The schedule listing the acts under which offences can be probed by NIA include the Atomic Energy act, UAPA, Anti-Hijacking Act and the Weapons of Mass Destruction Act.
The Cabinet, which cleared the NIA and amendments to UAPA late on Monday night, saw the provisions for admissibility of evidence being rejected along with putting the onus of proof on the accused.
Chidambaram was keen to include the admissibility of confessions, but this ran into political opposition from ministers like Lalu Prasad and Ramvilas Paswan. The option for a special law was also ruled out.
NIA, which would be headed by a Director General at par with the DGPs of states, would deal with offences of terrorism, counterfeit currency, violation of SAARC conventions like human trafficking, narcotics and organised crime, plane hijacking and violations of atomic energy act and weapons of mass destruction act among others.
Earlier, with BJP extending support to a central agency to investigate terror crimes, the Manmohan Singh government moved swiftly on Tuesday to introduce a bill to set up a National Investigation Agency backed by tough anti-terror laws within 15 hours of obtaining approval of the Union Cabinet.
The schedule listing the acts under which offences can be probed by NIA include the Atomic Energy act, UAPA, Anti-Hijacking Act and the Weapons of Mass Destruction Act.
The Cabinet, which cleared the NIA and amendments to UAPA late on Monday night, saw the provisions for admissibility of evidence being rejected along with putting the onus of proof on the accused.
Chidambaram was keen to include the admissibility of confessions, but this ran into political opposition from ministers like Lalu Prasad and Ramvilas Paswan. The option for a special law was also ruled out.
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NIA, which would be headed by a Director General at par with the DGPs of states, would deal with offences of terrorism, counterfeit currency, violation of SAARC conventions like human trafficking, narcotics and organised crime, plane hijacking and violations of atomic energy act and weapons of mass destruction act among others.
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