New Delhi, June 23: With an aim to secure Indian territory from terrorist threats, the Centre is mulling amend two laws to give more power to the National Investigative Agency (NIA). With these laws, the central probing agency will get additive power to investigate terrorist acts against Indians and Indian interests abroad.

Sources in the Union Ministry opined that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government on Monday will take a decision on amending the two acts — NIA Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). In these two amendments, the power to probe cases of human trafficking and cybercrimes are included, reports PTI. After Economic Panel, PM Modi Shifts Focus on CCEA Ahead of Union Budget 2019; Agrarian Sector Revival on Cards

It is to be noted that the Union Home Ministry was considering the amendments in these two laws since 2017 to give more power to NIA to meet fresh challenges. It is expected that these amendments would be tabled in the Parliament during the ongoing Monsoon Session this week.

According to the amendments in Schedule 4 of UAPA, the NIA would be able to designate a suspected individual as a terrorist. As per current laws, only organisations can be declared as ‘terrorist organisations’. Till now, there are 39 groups in the list of banned terrorist organisations under Section 35 of the UAPA.

It is to be known that the Central government set up NIA in 2009 following the Mumbai terror attack that had claimed the lives of as many as 166 people. Under the NIA Act, the agency can investigate offences under eight special laws, including the UAPA.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 23, 2019 11:41 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).