AK-47 smuggling: Chargesheet filed against 6 in Patna

PATNA: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday submitted chargesheet against six persons in a special court in Patna in the AK-47 assault rifles smuggling case.

Total 21 AK-47 rifles, smuggled from Central Ordnance Depot (COD) at Jabalpur, were recovered from different places in Munger since August 29 last year. It was revealed that the rifles were meant for supply to the Maoists and criminals in and outside Bihar. At least 30 persons have been arrested in this connection so far.

Those chargesheeted included Mohammar Shamsher Alam, Mohammad Niyazur Rahman, Mohammad Imran Alam, Mohammad Irfan Alam, Rizwana Begum and Purushottam Lal Rajak. They are lodged in Beur jail.

Niyazur and Puroshottam were once posted as armourers at COD. Niyazur was arrested from Bagdogra in West Bengal where he was working as a guard at the field ammunition depot of Indian Army.

The chargesheet was filed under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 380 (theft in dwelling house), 414 (assisting in concealment of stolen property) of IPC, relevant Sections of Arms Act and Section 39 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, which is related to the offence of supporting a terrorist organization.

The smuggling racket was busted on August 29 last year when Imran was nabbed by Munger police with three AK-47 rifles along with spare magazines and parts for use in the rifle. He had told the police that he was handed over the consignment by Purushottam at Jamalpur railway station. Imran also accepted that he had supplied the arms to Niyazur’s younger brother Shamsher.

Purushottam used to smuggle the rifles with minor defects from the COD. Niyazur, while serving the Army, also used to smuggle rifles from COD to Munger by train, police claimed.

NIA took over the investigation of the case on October 5 last year as the sophisticated weapons were originally meant for use by Army and other security forces of the country.