Lok Sabha passes NIA amendment bill, giving more powers to probing agency

The NIA (Amendment) Bill 2019, which seeks to provide more power to the NIA, has been passed by the Lok Sabha. The government has assured the nation that the proposed law would not target any community. It would help the investigative agency to function more effectively.

New Delhi: The Lok Sabha on Monday passed the National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Bill 2019 giving powers to the investigation agency to probe terror attacks targeting Indians and their interests abroad.

The bill provides the NIA, established in 2009 in the wake of the Mumbai terror attack which had claimed 166 lives, to investigate and prosecute offences listed in a schedule (scheduled offences). It also allows for the creation of Special Courts for the trial of scheduled offences.

Claiming that the bill was in the national interest, Home Minister Amit Shah assured the house that proposed law would never be misused and help the agency deal with terror effectively.

The bill was passed with 278 votes in favour of it, Only six members voted against it in the lower house of the parliament.