What is The New State Investigation Agency(SIA)? What it means for Kashmir

Days after the visit of Union Home Minister. Amit Shah, J&K administration announced the formation of a new investigation agency the State Investigation Agency (SIA).

The purpose of this agency is to probe terrorism-related cases. It will be the nodal agency working with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and other central agencies to take measures for speedy investigation of terrorism related cases in the Union Territory.

Here is a breakdown of the structure and function of the SIA.

The SIA will work in coordination with the NIA, and help out in speeding up of investigation procedures in cases of terrorism.

This agency will work independently from CID and other investigative agencies in the valley. According to some reports SIA will take up cases not referred to NIA.

Structure:

The new investigation body will comprise of of a director and officers and employees as deputed by the government.

An SIA directorate will be set up in the UT with the head of the CID wing as its ex-officio director.

 The director will, to the extent it pertains to the functioning of the SIA, exercise powers as specified by the government.

All the officers in charge of police stations have been asked to mandatorily intimate the SIA upon registration of terrorism-related cases, including those cases where any terror link is established in the course of the investigation.

In cases where the investigation is not taken up by the NIA, J&K’s director general of police (DGP) can determine in consultation with the SIA whether the case is fit to be investigated by SIA. Accordingly the case investigation can be transferred at any point of time during its probe.

What will SIA Do?

Offences under different sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC), Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, SAARC Convention (Suppression of Terrorism) Act, Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Act, Anti-Hijacking Act, 2016, Suppression of Unlawful Acts against Safety of Civil Aviation Act, 1982, among others, come under the purview of the agency.

The agency will also deal with cases relating to terrorist-linked propaganda, false narrative, large-scale incitement, spreading of disaffection, and enmity against the Indian Union, according to the order.