26/11 hero Sadanand becomes new DG of NIA

The central government has appointed Sadanand V. Date, Maharashtra ATS chief, as NIA Director General (DG). Sadanand V Date, a 1990 batch IPS officer of Maharashtra cadre, was awarded the Police Medal by the President for his bravery against terrorists during the 26/11 attacks.

Sadanand Date's tenure as DG of NIA:

• According to the order of the Personnel Ministry, the selection committee of the cabinet has appointed Sadanand Date as DG of NIA from March 26. Whereas his retirement date has been fixed as December 31, 2026.

Sadanand will replace Dinkar Gupta:

• Sadanand Date will replace Dinkar Gupta, who is retiring on March 31. Before NIA, Sadanand Date had worked as DIG in CBI. Sadanand also worked as IG (APS) in CRPF.
• Sadanand also held the post of Police Commissioner of Mira-Bhayandar and Vasai-Virar city near Mumbai.

Sadanand was injured in retaliation during 26/11:

• Sadanand Date is one of those brave officers who was injured while retaliating to the attack by ten terrorists on the night of 26 November 2008 in Mumbai. Due to his bravery and wisdom in difficult circumstances, many civilians were saved. They were taken hostage by Abu Ismail and Ajmal Kasab. The senior police officer was subsequently honored with the President's Police Medal for gallantry.

Sadanand's childhood was spent in extreme poverty:

• IPS Sadanand Date spent his childhood in poverty in Pune. He was only 15 years old at the time of his father's death. But to meet the expenses of his education, for about ten years from 1977, he went door-to-door distributing newspapers early in the morning.
• To meet household expenses, his mother worked as a dishwasher. Date became an accountant after completing M.Com he did PhD in Commerce from Pune University from Savitri Bai Phule. After that, he gave UPSC examinations to join public service and became an IPS officer in 1990.
• During his service, he received a scholarship on organized crime prevention from the University of Minnesota.

About National Investigation Agency (NIA):

• The real name of NIA is National Investigation Agency. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) was established under the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008.
• NIA is the central agency to investigate and prosecute crimes in the following cases:
• Offenses affecting the sovereignty, security and integrity of India, security of the State, friendly relations with foreign states.
• Offenses against nuclear and nuclear installations.
• Smuggling of high quality counterfeit Indian currency.
• The NIA enforces international treaties, agreements, conventions, and resolutions of the United Nations, its agencies, and other international organizations.

Objective of formation of NIA:

• The formation of NIA is also aimed at combating terrorism in India.
• NIA acts as the central counter-terrorism law enforcement agency.
• The headquarters of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is situated in New Delhi. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has branches in Hyderabad, Guwahati, Kochi, Lucknow, Mumbai, Kolkata, Raipur, and Jammu.

NIA's goal:

• To investigate the listed crimes thoroughly using the latest scientific means of investigation.
• To enforce the Constitution of India and the laws of the country.
• To ensure effective and speedy hearing.
• Protecting human rights and giving priority to the dignity of the individual.