In a major breakthrough, 29 Assam Rifles (AR) along with Dimapur police busted “Pan India arms smuggling racket” after conducting operations in various localities of Dimapur- Burma Camp, Eros Lane, Dhansiri, Darogajan and Chumukedima.
PRO IGAR (N) in a press release said based on specific inputs, the operations were conducted by 29 AR in the localities mentioned. During these operations, an arms dealer identified as one Sanjay Kumar was arrested with eight pistols.
Based on Sanjay’s information, some others involved in the arms racket were also apprehended including one NSCN (I-M) cadre identified as John Longthasa who had come to Dhansiri to sell one Berretta pistol and two magazines to Sanjay Sharma, said AR.
AR said a woman identified as Mary (approximate age 70) and a suspected woman cadre of NSCN (I-M) was also arrested in possession of one AK series rifle.
The latter was reportedly working with Sanjay Sharma and one Rajesh Gupta, a relative of Sanjay Sharma who was a resident of Bareilly, UP, said AR.
AR also informed that three other persons supporting the racket were also apprehended from different locations.
Based on information given by Sanjay, one Awon Angkang, a woman cadre of NSCN (I-M) was located at Chumukedima.
When the vehicle in which she was travelling was searched, Mary who was travelling in the same vehicle was found in possession of one AK series rifle.
AR said it seemed “near impossible” that a senior citizen would be involved in weapon smuggling and in all likelihood, this weapon must have been handed over to her by Awon Angkang “to save herself.”
The Berretta, which was brought by NSCN (I-M) cadre John Longthasa was identical to the other three Berettas with similar tags that were recovered from Sanjay Sharma.
In all, nine pistols and one AK series rifle were recovered by the AR personnel. Out of these ten weapons, seven pistols- four Berettas, two Llamas and one Astra were brand new and were to be smuggled out to other parts of country by Rajesh Gupta.
AR said the busting of this “pan India arms smuggling racket” by AR has resulted in a major setback to the “anti national forces.” It is a stellar achievement towards maintaining peace and normalcy in Nagaland as well as the rest of the country, said AR.