J&K vigilance chief is new NIA head

Radha Vinod Raju, Special Director General of Police in Jammu and Kashmir, was today appointed as Director General of the newly established National Investigation Agency.

Radha Vinod Raju, Special Director General of Police in Jammu and Kashmir, was on Thursday appointed as Director General of the newly established National Investigation Agency (NIA).

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A 1975-batch IPS officer, 59-year-old Raju, who heads the vigilance department in the militancy-hit state, will be the head of the NIA till January 21, 2010, an official spokesperson said.

He was selected for the coveted post considering his wide knowledge and experiences in investigating high-profile cases, including assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram recommended Raju's name which was signed by Appointments Committee of Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has issued orders relieving Raju so as to enable his deputation to the Centre. He was to retire on July 31, this year.

Raju, who has served in various capacities in CBI and returned to his parent cadre after being promoted as Additional Director in the investigating agency, also had a stint in the vigilance department.

Serving as head of the Vigilance Bureau in Jammu and Kashmir earlier, Raju streamlined the department which was in shackles due to the ongoing militancy.

A Bill for the formation of the much-talked about National Investigation Agency was cleared by Parliament in December last year.

As per the proposal, NIA will have concurrent jurisdiction which empowers the Centre to probe terror attacks in any part of the country, covering offences, including challenge to the country's sovereignty and integrity, bomb blasts, hijacking of aircraft and ships, and attacks on nuclear installations.

The organisations, from which views have been elicited, have favoured an Indian Police Service official to head NIA.

The ground staff of the agency in the national capital could be drawn from existing central staff and security organisations while in the states, permanent deputation from the state police could be taken, they said.