NIA Crackdown: Multistate Raids Uncover Illegal Arms Network in India

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) executed dawn raids across 17 locations in four states, probing a case associated with an AK-47 recovery in Bihar. The investigation, originally started by Bihar police, highlights a sophisticated cross-state illegal arms network. Key arrests include individuals linked to smuggling operations across state lines.

On Wednesday, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) launched extensive raids on 17 locations spanning four Indian states, intensifying an ongoing probe into the discovery of an AK-47 assault rifle and ammunition in Bihar. The operation commenced in the early hours, targeting sites in Bihar and beyond. NIA officials meticulously searched the residences of suspects tied to the case, which originated from the Fakuli Police Station in Muzaffarpur, Bihar.

The case was initially filed by Bihar police on May 7, with the NIA taking charge on August 5. Four suspects were recorded in the NIA First Information Report (FIR) after their arrests, following the seizure of an AK-47 rifle. The investigation unravels a significant illegal trade network dealing in banned arms and ammunition.

The FIR details how the detained individuals are part of a vast supply chain spanning multiple states. Two men, Vikash Kumar and Satyam Kumar, were apprehended by the Special Task Force and Muzaffarpur Police while allegedly possessing parts of an AK-47 at the local railway station. Further investigation revealed that Vikash Kumar purchased the rifle from Ahmad Ansari in Gopalganj, Bihar, then entrusted it to Devmani Rai in Muzaffarpur for safekeeping. Rai subsequently directed police to a site where the weapon and live rounds were found.

Ahmad Ansari, implicated in the illegal arms trade, was apprehended by Bihar police on May 10 in Nagaland. During his arrest, Ansari was in possession of a mobile phone and two walkie-talkies, underscoring his intricate involvement in the arms distribution network.

(With inputs from agencies.)