The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has written a letter to all states to provide adequate security to officials of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) who have been receiving threats from terror groups as well as Naxals.
The fresh communication — which sought ample cover especially during raids and in remote areas — also revealed that terror outfit Popular Front of India (PFI), in connivance with Pakistan’s ISI, is trying to gather information about NIA officers apart from other Intelligence units of India.
The missive also talks about direct threat from Al-Badr to target NIA officials in Kashmir amid senior Indian officials facing the heat from Khalistani groups abroad.
Top sources in Intelligence agencies said there are inputs that officials can be targeted, especially during raids. The NIA, in the past 10 days, has conducted more than 100 raids linked to Naxals and Khalistan terror groups in different parts of the country.
Though the ministry had written to all state administrations in 2014 to provide security to NIA officials during their visits, the fresh letter was sent on Tuesday due to growing threat.
“Keeping in view the nature of the function entrusted to the NIA, its officers/personnel issue summons and interrogate the suspected persons in the terrorism related cases. In discharge of their various duties, including investigations and collection of evidence, NIA officers have to visit remote locations and militancy affected areas which can render them vulnerable to threats,” a senior government official told News18 while quoting the letter.
It has been reported by the ministry that terrorist organisations like PFI, Mujahideen Gazwatul Hind, RPF/PLA, in connivance with Pakistan’s ISI, have been making efforts to collect information about officers of Intelligence agencies, including NIA.
“According to a recent input, a PoK-based terrorist has tasked Al-Badr terrorists to target NIA personnel in Kashmir Valley. Sikhs For Justice has also threatened a cycle of violence against high dignitaries and officers of security agencies, including NIA,” the official said.
A senior NIA official said in the past few raids, it was found that there wasn’t adequate security for the personnel.
Last week, NIA conducted raids in 62 locations in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in a case linked to Maoists. Similarly, on September 27, the agency conducted a massive multi-state crackdown on the terrorists-gangsters-drug smugglers nexus, connected with a ‘listed terrorist’. A total of 53 locations were raided during the day-long operation. Apart from these two big raids, NIA has also conducted raids in J&K.
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