'Purulia weapons in hands of criminals'

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, APRIL 25. Most of the missing arms dropped in Purulia have fallen into the hands of criminals, Lok Sabha was informed today.

In a written reply the Union Minister of State for Home, Mr. Vidyasagar Rao, said that efforts to recover the arms were still continuing in close coordination with the police forces of various States.

He said that according to the CBI most of the arms and ammunition airdropped in Purulia district of West Bengal in December 1995 have been recovered. However, the CBI has intimated that 50 AK-47 assault rifles, 3,761 rounds of ammunition of AK-47 rifle, 14 pistols of 9 mm caliber, 31 boosters for rocket launcher, 376 rounds of ammunition for the sniper rifles, 22 anti-tank grenades and 35 hand grenades were still missing.

While six foreigners have been convicted in the case five Indian accused are absconding and have been declared proclaimed offenders.

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Section  : National
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