Patna, May 25: The National Investigation Agency is planning to set up a unit in Bihar in the wake of intelligence inputs that insurgent groups are spreading their influence in some bordering districts.

Bihar is now under the control of the Lucknow unit of NIA that is assigned the responsibility to deal with terrorist activities in the country. The issue to set up a separate unit in Bihar was discussed at a meeting of multi-agency centre convened in the city today.

Representatives of state police’s three wings — special branch, economic offences unit and special task force — attended the meeting, which is organised every month on the directive of the ministry of home affairs.

“Intelligence agencies have come to know that the Indian Mujahideen has, of late, shifted its base from states such as Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and Karnataka to different areas in Bihar. This is evident from the fact that of 13 persons arrested in 2011-12 for alleged involvement in terrorist attacks in the country, 12 were from Bihar,” a senior Bihar police officer said.

The participants, including officials from NIA and other central agencies, exchanged information and resolved to cooperate with each other to curb the influence of the Indian Mujahideen in the state, particularly in districts bordering Nepal and Bangladesh.