KOHIMA: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted a series of coordinated raids on Wednesday at 17 locations in four states: Bihar, Nagaland, Haryana, and Jammu and Kashmir.
The actions are part of an ongoing investigation into a major interstate arms trafficking case. The raids targeted 15 premises linked to suspects and accused individuals involved in the illicit trade of prohibited weapons.
The investigation, attached to case RC-11/2024/NIA/DLI, has revealed an AK-47 rifle, among other arms, that was smuggled from Nagaland and other northeastern states into various parts of India. Bihar has emerged as a critical hub in this operation, acting both as a transit route and as a destination for the trafficked arms.
In the raids, the NIA managed to seize some major evidence, such as a 315 rifle, 11 live rounds, and three empty cartridges. It also confiscated materials and tools believed to be used in the manufacture of firearms, a car, Rs. 13.94 lakh cash, digital devices such as mobile phones, pen drives, and a memory card, and several documents.
The search operations have been focusing on 11 suspects who were involved with four arrested and charge-sheeted in the case. Preliminary findings seem to suggest that the arrested have been involved in the trafficking of arms for more than two years and that Bihar has been acting as a facilitating factor for all these illegal activities.
This case highlights the larger issue of arms trafficking through northeastern India, which continues to pose a serious threat to the country’s internal security. The NIA has promised to intensify its efforts to identify further suspects and dismantle the whole network. By doing so, the agency aims to curb the trafficking of illegal weapons and ensure the safety of affected regions.
