In a major development, the Union home ministry has approved three new branches for the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Manipur’s Imphal besides Chennai and Ranchi.
Home ministry officials said the decision to open the new branches was taken in the last week.
“These branches will help in ensuring quick response to any emergent situation in the respective States by the premier anti-terror investigation agency of the country,” an MHA official told Northeast Now.
These branches will also strengthen NIA’s capability in investigation of terrorism-related cases and other national security related matters.
“It will also facilitate timely collection of crucial information and evidence related to such offences,” officials said.
Currently, the NIA has nine branches in Guwahati, Mumbai, Jammu, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Kochi, Lucknow, Raipur and Chandigarh besides specialised units at the headquarters in New Delhi.
Officials said that the new branches would definitely help effectively fight the problem of terrorism and tighten the anti-terror response framework.