National Investigation Department Moved Under Prime Minister's Office

Kathmandu. The National Investigation Department (NID) is established as an intelligence organization. This organization, which has the responsibility of collecting all types of information necessary for the government for internal and national security and providing it to the government, has a constitutional provision to remain in the federation.

The NID, which has the responsibility of developing intelligence, was under the Ministry of Home Affairs from the beginning. After KP Sharma Oli, who became Prime Minister after the CPN-UML and Maoists secured a two-thirds majority in the 2074 elections, brought the NID under the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Ganesh Adhikari was the intelligence chief at that time.

High officials of the department say that Adhikari lobbied to bring the department under the Prime Minister's Office. At that time, Oli had also brought the Revenue Investigation Department and the Department of Money Laundering Investigation under the Prime Minister's Office.

After the Janji movement on Bhadra 23 and 24, 2082, Sushila Karki, who led the interim government, returned the National Investigation Department to the Home Ministry. The Council of Ministers led by Sushila Karki decided on Ashoj 9, 2082, to keep the NID under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The Council of Ministers led by Karki had also decided to keep the Revenue Investigation Department and the Department of Money Laundering Investigation under the Ministry of Finance.

Currently, Prime Minister Balen 'Balen' Shah has brought the National Investigation Department back under the Prime Minister's Office. The Council of Ministers, which met on Baisakh 30, approved the work division regulations and decided to bring the NID, which was under the Ministry of Home Affairs, under the Prime Minister.

Among the Nepal Police, Armed Police, and National Investigation Department under the Ministry of Home Affairs, some security officials say that there will be weaknesses in security coordination as the department has moved under the Prime Minister's Office. Experts say that the country's situation changed due to the lack of coordination between the three security agencies and the assessment of potential accidents during the Janji movement.

Former AIG of Armed Police, Narayanbabu Thapa, said that the country's intelligence mechanism should be made effective rather than moving it here and there. He said, 'The intelligence organization must be made effective; its effectiveness will not increase just by taking it under the Prime Minister.'

Former AIG Thapa said that the NID should be kept under the Home Ministry to coordinate with the police and armed forces on internal and national security. He said, 'It is easier to discuss various security issues when it is under the Ministry of Home Affairs.'

A former chief of the NID said that keeping the intelligence mechanism under the Prime Minister would be effective. That former chief said, 'When it is under the Home Ministry, it has to be limited only to the scope of work of that ministry, but when it is under the executive head, intelligence can be developed on overall matters.'

Even when under the Prime Minister, previous chiefs used to attend the Central Security Committee meeting chaired by the Home Minister. The practice of NID representatives participating in the District Security Committee meeting is prevalent to ensure peace and security in the district. Former AIG Thapa said that the participation of NID representatives in the District Security Committee meeting is necessary for information collection and analysis. He said, 'Regardless of who it is under, information and analysis are important matters, which helps in making internal and national security robust.'

The current chief of the NID is Tekendra Karki. After coming under the Prime Minister, the head of the department will now report the main issues directly to the Prime Minister and officially to the Chief Secretary.