New Delhi, 17 December (H.S.): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested Kamlakant Verma, also known as ‘Uncle Ji’, the prime accused in a large-scale illegal arms and ammunition trafficking network operating across several states in northern India. Verma’s arrest from Patna, the capital of Bihar, marks the 11th arrest made in connection with the ongoing NIA investigation.

According to the NIA, Kamlakant Verma played a crucial role in the arms trafficking syndicate, allegedly procuring illegal ammunition from gun houses in Haryana and other locations, and supplying them to various parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and adjoining regions. The agency described his arrest as a significant breakthrough in dismantling the criminal network.

Earlier, on December 4, the NIA conducted simultaneous raids at 23 locations across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Haryana, leading to the arrest of four others — Ravi Ranjan, Shashi Prakash, Vijay Kalra, and Kush Kalra. During the raids, the agency also seized a large cache of arms and ammunition, along with incriminating documents related to illegal procurement and distribution.

The NIA continues to investigate the wider nexus of suppliers, transporters, and buyers involved in the illegal arms trafficking network, which poses a serious threat to national security across the northern region.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar