Abandoned Pak cartridges: Central sleuths begin probe

Thiruvananthapuram: National Investigation Agency (NIA), Military Intelligence and Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) sleuths reached Kollam on Sunday for a preliminary probe into the 14 live cartridges found abandoned at Muppathadi, Madathara near Kulathupuzha on the Thiruvananthapuram-Chenkotta interstate road. While each team conducted separate probes, the Military Intelligence team led by Major Mukesh examined the cartridges kept at the Kulathupuzha police station and confirmed that they were made in Pakistan. The cartridges, they said, were brought here and abandoned recently.
The primary assumption of the investigators is that the cartridges are made in Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) as suggested from the markings on it. Police said the cartridges were made in 1981-82 period and could be used in modern long-range weapons. The investigators also doubt that these cartridges are used by Pakistan armed forces.
Earlier, state police chief Loknath Behera had discussions with police chiefs of other states. “The ATS has been entrusted with the task of probing the matter. Anoop Kuruvila John will be heading the probe,” said Behera. We have informed the central agencies about the incident, he added.
The DGP said he discussed the issue with his counterparts of other states to find out the involvement of any extremist organizations. He said all the possibilities will be probed.
Kollam SP (rural) S Harisankar said there was progress in the probe.
Passers by found the cartridges abandoned on the roadside at Muppathadi, Madathara on Saturday evening. They alerted Kulathupuzha police, who took the custody of the cartridges. There were 14 live cartridges, of which 12 have the marking 72 POF.
Earlier too there were incidents of finding cartridges and explosives from eastern part of Kollam district on the Tamil Nadu border. But there were no serious efforts to nab the culprits. There are allegations of letting loose forces which harboured terrorist Paravai Badusha. Also, there is no headway in the probe against those who planted a bomb at Kollam civil station a few years ago.