NIA arrests absconding accused involved in arms smuggling to Bihar from Nagaland

The National Investigation Agency, in a joint operation with Bihar STF, has arrested an absconding accused as part of its probe in a case pertaining to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle and live ammunition, officials said on Sunday.

The accused, identified as Karamullah, was arrested from Bihar's Saran district on Saturday, they said.

Karamullah allegedly conspired with other co-accused to smuggle sophisticated prohibited-bore weapons from Nagaland to Bihar, with the intention of disrupting public peace and safety, and endangering national security, according to a statement issued by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

The case was initially registered at the Fakuli police station by Bihar Police on May 7, 2024, to probe the recovery of one AK-47 rifle with lens and live ammunition from Murghatiya Bridge in Muzaffarpur. The state police had arrested four accused persons as well.

The case was subsequently taken over by the NIA.

After completion of investigation, NIA filed its first supplementary chargesheet against four accused persons -- Vikash Kumar, Satyam Kumar, Devmani Rai and Ahmad Ansari -- on May 8 last year, the statement said.

The second supplementary chargesheet was filed against one accused, Manjoor Khan, on February 20, this year, it said.

The third supplementary chargesheet was filed against another accused, Kundan Kumar alias Kundan Bhagat, on April 15, the NIA said.

Bhairaw Tripathi, also an accused in the case, was arrested from Muzaffarpur on August 19, it added.