The NIA on Wednesday chargesheeted an accused Santosh Kumar for money transfers to the tune of `2.2 crore in the February 2019 sophisticated arms interdiction case of Bihar.
Northeast insurgent group NSCN (IM) was involved in supplying Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL) and AK 47 assault rifles to banned Naxal outfit Tritiya Prastuti Samiti (TPC) in Jharkhand.
The National Investigation Agency filed the chargesheet against Kumar under various Indian Penal Code Setions besides those of the Arms Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act at a designated court in Patna on Wednesday.
The accused Santosh Kumar has a number of aliases including Santosh Singh and Umesh Kumar and is a resident of village Horil Chappra under district Ara, Bhojpur, Bihar.
The case relates to interdiction of highly sophisticated weapons and ammunition on February 2.2019, by Bihar Police, including Under Barrel Grenade Launchers (UBGL), AK series rifle and large number of 5.56 x 45 mm ammunition from three persons---Suraj Prasad, Varengnow Kahorngam and Clearson Kabo travelling in a SUV.
"Investigations found that accused Santosh Kumar was one of prime members of the weapons trafficking network and their supply to Naxals in Jharkhand.
He had extensively used banking and hawala channels for transfer of funds for procurement of weapons and such transactions worth more Rs 2.2 Crores have been identified during investigation," the NIA said in a statement.
The agency said investigation has established that a large number of illegal sophisticated prohibited weapons and ammunition were supplied by an accused Ningkhan Sangtam, a self styled Major of NSCN(IM) through illegal arms dealers of Bihar to Bhikhan Ganjhu, a Zonal Commander of TPC, a Naxal terrorist gang, proscribed by the Jharkhand Government.
Earlier two Chargesheets were filed against six other accused persons-- Suraj Prasad, VR Kahorngam, Clearson Kabo , Tripurari Singh Mukesh Singh and Ningkhan Sangtam on August 3 and November 22 last year.
Further investigation against co-conspirators and other suspects including absconding accused Bhikhan Ganju is continuing, added the agency.