JOIN USUlfa with whom the Maoists have struck an alliance last year has ensured a steady supply of ammunition for the sophisticated weapons that the Naxalites now possess, detained Maoist state secretary Kanchan told the police.
“During the preliminary investigation, we came to know that (the Maoists) had established practical relations with other like-minded organisations in north-eastern states," sources said.
Supply used to first reach Arunachal Pradesh from China before making to some designated locations in North Bengal via Assam. From there, the arms consignments travel to Maoists hideouts in West Midnapore and other specific locations in neighbouring Jharkhand and Orissa, officials investigating the matter have learnt.
“In fact, the Naxalites who are in possession of several AK-47s in the region, have found it essential to seal a deal with Ulfa and KLO (Kamtapur Liberation Organisation) in North Bengal in order to keep the arms cracking. It was after the tie-up with Ulfa that the Maoists raided the EFR jawans' camp at Silda with the AK-47s providing the crucial fire cover,” a top official said here on Monday. The Naxalites fired more than 400 bullets from the automatic weapons to puzzle the EFR jawans.
“They (Naxalites) also maintained good relations with Manipur based People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (Prepak) for the past eight months. Apart from exchanging arms and ammunition, they used to jointly organise arms training programmes. Prepak activists visited Jharkhand to impart arms training to the Maoist cadres.”