Two CRPF Personnel Taken into Custody for Supplying Arms to Naxals
Four persons, including two CRPF personnel, have been taken into custody by the Uttar Pradesh STF for allegedly stealing arms and ammunitions and supplying the same to the Naxals, reported PTI.
Police said that the four persons were arrested in an operation undertaken on the ground of a tip off received in the aftermath of the Dantewada massacre, in which 76 security personnel were killed by the Naxals, report said.
The STF carried out searches in Moradabad, Rampur and Jhansi and arrested Vinod Paswan and Dinesh Singh of CRPF, said report quoting unnamed official sources.
They said that one retired sub-inspector of Provincial Armed Constabulary, identified as Yashodhanad Singh, was seen moving in different armory centres of the CRPF and PAC and collecting empty shells of bullets fired during the training, report said.
The shells, report said citing sources, were later replaced at the main Rampur armoury with live bullets and finally supplied to Naxals.
In the searches, more than 5000 live cartridges, 16 magazines of INSAS rifles, 0.25 bore guns, SLR and AK 47s were seized in addition to 245 kg of empty shells, said report.
In the meanwhile, the CRPF put both its personnel under suspension and instructed an immediate Court of Enquiry, report said.
“We have suspended both the personnel and have also ordered an immediate Court of Enquiry. We are in constant touch with the UP police and are extending all help to them,” CRPF Director General Vikram Srivastava was quoted as saying.
Addressing reporters, Additional Director General of UP police Brij Lal later said: “We have also recovered large number of arms components, mobile phones and Rs 1.76 lakh in cash.”
He said that the racket had been running for over six months and had large network and that the police was interrogating the four to look at the possibility of involvement of more persons, said report.
