New Delhi, 30 October (H.S.): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested Sandeep Kumar Sinha, an absconding accused in a case relating to the smuggling of AK-47 rifles in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district. He was apprehended on the night of October 29 from the Town police station area of Vaishali district. A Nexon car, mobile phones, SIM cards and memory cards were seized from his possession.

According to the NIA, Sandeep Kumar Sinha is accused of conspiring with other individuals to smuggle prohibited-bore sophisticated firearms, particularly AK-47 rifles, from Nagaland into Bihar. The alleged conspiracy was aimed at disrupting public peace and security and posing a threat to national security.

The case originated from an FIR registered at the Phakuli police station in Muzaffarpur on May 7, 2024. During the initial investigation, police recovered an AK-47 rifle fitted with a telescopic sight, along with live ammunition, near Murgathia Bridge in the Phakuli police station area. Four persons allegedly involved in the arms trafficking network were arrested in connection with the case. The NIA took over the investigation on August 5, 2024.

Following its investigation, the NIA filed its first supplementary chargesheet against Vikas Kumar, Satyam Kumar, Devmani Rai and Ahmad Ansari under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

A second supplementary chargesheet was filed against Manzoor Khan, while a third was submitted against Kundan Kumar, alias Kundan Bhagat. The chargesheets also invoked relevant provisions of the Arms Act and other applicable laws.

The agency had earlier arrested Bhairav Tripathi on August 19 and Karmullah on August 22. The NIA said further investigation into the case is underway.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar