BENGALURU: Karnataka Home Minister and Chittapur MLA Priyank Kharge has raised questions concerning national security and institutional accountability following the seizure of over 44,000 live cartridges across Bihar and Haryana, urging the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to address reports alleging that individuals implicated in the racket were seen wearing organisational uniforms.
The remarks follow enforcement operations that dismantled an interstate ammunition-smuggling network. Bihar Police recovered around 19,250 live cartridges during an operation in Bhojpur district, while the Haryana Special Task Force (STF) seized a consignment of approximately 25,000 cartridges near the Rohad toll plaza in Jhajjar district, bringing the combined seizure to nearly 44,250 rounds.
In a statement shared on social media platform X, Kharge questioned the intended destination of the extensive cache of ammunition, asking whether the rounds were destined for organized criminal networks or unlawful entities.
He also highlighted investigative reports indicating that the seized ammunition bore markings linked to the government ammunition factory in Khadki, Pune, demanding to know how state-manufactured ordnance was diverted into unauthorized hands and which licensed arms dealers or intermediaries facilitated the trade.
Referring to images circulating online that reportedly show suspects in RSS attire, the Congress leader sought clarification on whether the accused persons were associated with the organisation, their specific roles, and the purpose of their alleged involvement in the network. He criticized the political silence over the incident, remarking that matters concerning arms trafficking require uniform scrutiny.
Kharge reiterated his demand that the RSS undergo formal registration as an organisation with maintained membership records. He contended that transparent registries are necessary to establish accountability and prevent organizations from distancing themselves from members when criminal allegations emerge, directly addressing RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat to state that statutory registration would bring institutional transparency to its operations.
(With inputs from media reports)