Two of gang selling arms to Maoists held

LUCKNOW - Two men who used to supply firearms illegally manufactured in Bihar to Maoists have been arrested in Uttar Pradesh’s Bahraich district, police said Monday.

Surendra Kumar and Ram Kewal, members of a Bihar-based gang involved in the illegal manufacturing and trading of firearms, were arrested late Sunday from the Risia area, some 300 km from Lucknow.

“Preliminary investigations reveal the two men were in touch with different Maoist outfits, including those in Nepal, and used to provide them firearms that were illegally manufactured in Bihar,” Inspector K.D. Singh told reporters Monday in Varanasi, around 300 km from Lucknow.

“The two men were on their way to Nepal to meet Maoists for finalising a deal of firearms,” he added.

Two pistols and some cartridges were recovered from the duo’s possession, police said.

According to police, the two men had handed over an illegal consignment of firearms, which was to be supplied to Maoists, to their other gang members operating in Bahraich, that shares border with neighbouring Nepal.

“Teams have been constituted to nab other gang members in possession of the illegal consignment,” said Singh.

Kumar and Kewal, in their early 30s, hail from Uttar Pradesh and have been working with the Bihar-based gang for the last five years, police said.