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Former intelligence officials find flaws, say the new agency will only create confusion
The proposed National Investigation Agency (NIA) is courting controversy even before its inception with intelligence experts describing it as a "half-baked" measure.
"I think the NIA is not going to be effective in countering terror as it's too inadequate to deal with
terror. We should have a National Integrated Counter-Terrorist Agency (NICTA) instead," challenged former Intelligence Bureau director AK Doval.
The NICTA or any such agency should have three primary functions: collecting information and intelligence, operationalise and conduct operations and lastly investigate, Doval said.
The present proposed agency has one primary function of investigation and not the other two, according to security experts. The NIA does not have an operational wing or counter terror wing.
Besides it does not have the mandate to get intelligence on the lines of Central Intelligence Agency or Federal Bureau of Investigation of the US.
Former Intelligence Bureau joint director M K Dhar said the government has introduced only two bills: NIA Bill and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill.
"Apart from that there is no action. The national security and internal security issues need a concerted effort in dealing with terror," Dhar said.
At present, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and the IB are given the task of collecting intelligence. Both spy agencies also conduct covert counter-terror operations but are not clearly defined.
Setting up another agency would only compound the working of the present organisations. "It will create another turf war. As it is IB and RAW are always trying to prove they are the best. It will add to the confusion," says an intelligence agency official.
Apart from the Rs 5 crore sanctioned for the NIA, and another Rs 1.5 crore for courts and legal issues, the government has not defined its plans in the bill beyond three months. The government has not touched the working of NIA.
"The bill is not clear from where the government would raise the manpower. Who will work for the NIA? What will be the training structure and a host of other issues have to be worked out," said a senior officer.
"The first responder of terror, the police constable has to be empowered. Unless you do that, all other measures don't have even theoretical importance. How can the policeman with a lathi or .303 revolver fight a terrorist," South Asia Intelligence Review editor Ajay Sahani said.
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