The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday arrested four accused in an organized illegal arms and ammunition smuggling case after extensive searches at multiple locations in three states. 22 NIA teams conducted simultaneous searches at seven locations in Bihar’s Nalanda, Sheikhpura and Patna districts, 13 locations in Uttar Pradesh’s Auraiya district and two locations in Haryana’s Kurukshetra district.
22 NIA teams conducted simultaneous searches at seven locations in Nalanda, Sheikhpura and Patna districts of Bihar, 13 locations in Auraiya district of Uttar Pradesh and two locations in Kurukshetra district of Haryana.
During the searches, the teams seized a large quantity of arms and ammunition of various bores, more than Rs 1 crore in cash, several digital and electronic devices containing incriminating data, fake and suspicious identity documents including incriminating documents. Following the searches, the NIA said it has arrested Shashi Prakash from Patna, Ravi Ranjan Singh from Sheikhpura and Vijay Kalra and Kush Kalra from Kurukshetra for their involvement in a large syndicate engaged in smuggling, sale and purchase of illegal ammunition. Arrested for active participation.
The counter-terrorism agency said that as per the NIA investigation in the case (RC-01/2025/NIA/PAT), the ammunition was being smuggled from Haryana to Uttar Pradesh and then as part of a conspiracy, it was being transported to Bihar and other parts of the country.
The case began in July this year in Bihar, where the local police arrested four accused, identified as Rajendra Prasad, Kumar Abhijeet, Shatrughan Sharma and Vishal Kumar, following the seizure and recovery of several arms and ammunition. The NIA, which took over the case in August on the instructions of the Home Ministry, is continuing its investigation.
