NIA begins probe into smuggled AK-47 rifles

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has started probe into the smuggled AK-47 semi-automatic rifles.

After it came to light that the case of smuggled AK-47 semi-automatic rifles involved people from four states— Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh—, the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) has orders the NIA to probe the matter.

These sophisticated weapons, recently recovered from Munger, were illegally brought to Bihar from the Central Ordnance Depot (COD) at Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh.

“The NIA team, led by DSP, NK Malviya, has begun an investigation into the case. Altogether 15 people have been arrested from Bihar and Bengal, while four people, including a retired employee of COD, have been arrested in Jabalpur. So far, 20 AK-47 semi-automatic rifles have been recovered. More recovery is likely to be made in the days to come,” a police source said.

“After some arrests were made in Bihar and West Bengal, it came to light that some of the sophisticated weapons were sold to Maoists in Jharkhand,” a senior police official said.

The matter came to light on August 28, when the Munger police arrested a man identified as Mohammad Imran with three AK-47 rifles.

Another such three weapons were recovered from an arms dealer, Shamsher Alam.

After interrogating them, the Munger police, led by its SP, Babu Ram, recovered 12 more AK-47 rifles from a well in Mirzapur (in Munger) on September 28.

The police then arrested a retired army jawan, Niyazur Rehman, in this connection from New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal.

During the investigation, it was found that around 70 weapons, were smuggled from the Jabalpur COD.

The investigation further led to the arrest of Manzar Alam from Patna, who admitted during interrogation that he used to sell AK-47 assault rifles to Maoists in Jharkhand.

GUN WITH THE WIND

• On August 29, Munger police recover three AK-47 from one Md Imran.
• On September 28, police recover 12 more such weapons hidden in a well in Munger.
• In October, more arrests take place after it came to light these arms were smuggled from Central Ordnance Depot in Jabalpur.\
• One of the apprehended accused admits he sold AK-47 rifles to Maoists in Jharkhand.
• Twenty AK-47 rifles recovered so far.
• Eventually, Centre orders NIA probe.