12 killed in car blast near Red Fort in Delhi

• The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) handed over the probe into a blast near the Red Fort to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

• The decision came hours after Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the security situation in the national capital and other parts of the country following the blast.

• The blast took place in a slow-moving car at a traffic signal near the Red Fort metro station on November 10, killing at least 12 people and gutting several vehicles.

• Preliminary findings suggest ammonium nitrate, fuel oil and detonators may have been used in the blast that ripped through the car.

• The Red Fort blast on a busy evening came hours after eight people, including three doctors, were arrested and 2,900 kg of explosives seized with the uncovering of a “white collar” terror module involving the Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind and spanning Kashmir, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

National Investigation Agency (NIA)

• The NIA was set up in 2009 in the wake of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks that had claimed 166 lives. 

• The NIA was constituted under the NIA Act of 2008 as a special agency for investigation and prosecution of offences specified in the Schedule of NIA Act. 

• NIA is the premier investigation agency at the central level to investigate terrorism related cases including terrorism financing cases.

• It aims to set the standards of excellence in counter terrorism and other national security related investigations at the national level by developing into a highly trained, partnership oriented workforce.

• The NIA, with its headquarters in New Delhi, has two zonal offices in Guwahati and Jammu and 21 branch offices across the country.

• The NIA Act was amended in 2019 to enlarge the mandate of the NIA by inclusion of offences related to human trafficking, manufacture/sale of prohibited arms, cyber-terrorism and offences under the Explosive Substances Act, 1908 and expanded its jurisdiction beyond India.

• Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 was amended in 2019 to empower Director General (DG), NIA to seize/attach the properties related to proceeds of terrorism in cases being investigated by the NIA.

Objectives of NIA:

• In-depth professional investigation of scheduled offences using the latest scientific methods of investigation and setting up such standards as to ensure that all cases entrusted to the NIA are detected.

• Ensuring effective and speedy trial.

• Developing into a thoroughly professional, result-oriented organisation, upholding the constitution of India and laws of the land giving prime importance to the protection of human rights and dignity of the individual.

• Developing a professional workforce through regular training and exposure to the best practices and procedures.

• Displaying scientific temper and progressive spirit while discharging the duties assigned.

• Inducting modern methods and the latest technologies in every sphere of activities of the agency.

• Assist all states and other investigating agencies in probing terrorist cases.

• Build a database on all terrorist-related information and share the database available with the states and other agencies.

• Study and analyse laws related to terrorism in other countries and regularly evaluate the adequacy of existing laws in India and propose changes as and when necessary.