Hyderabad has scored over Mumbai in getting the first branch of the National Investigation Agency, a federal agency set up in Delhi for terror probe in the wake of the 26/11 attacks on Mumbai.
The choice fell on Hyderabad for logistic reasons like accessibility, since half of the 16 cases the NIA has taken up for investigation are from the south, six of them from Kerala alone. The Andhra Pradesh capital is also equidistant from all southern states and hence it will facilitate quick movement of NIA personnel, which was becoming difficult from its headquarters in Delhi, a home ministry official said.
Described as a field office to be headed by a police officer of the DIG rank, the branch is expected to be operational by August 15. Its jurisdiction will extend up to Maharashtra and Goa, besides all the southern states.
Besides the six Kerala bomb blast cases, the NIA will also transfer two cases from Goa under investigation to the field office once it becomes operational. These relate to a bomb explosion in Margao and another relating to the recovery of improvised explosive device at Sancoale.
The home ministry last week notified the opening of the Hyderabad NIA office by issuing a circular to state and central police organisations inviting applications from serving officers for filling up the posts there on 'an urgent basis'.
The posts so advertised include those of a senior public prosecutor, biology and explosives experts, a forensic psychologist, inspectors and constables.
