American's judicial custody remand extended

Siliguri, Apr 18 (UNI) A local court today sent the two American nationals, arrested for carrying arms and ammunition, to 14 days in judicial custody.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Amit Ray while hearing the case sent the accused Monica Kay Bond (59) and her daughter Heather Bond(38), residents of Santa Barbara in California, to Siliguri Correctional Home.

The mother-daughter were arrested from the Bagdogra airport here on April 14 and produced before the ACJM on April 15, when their bail application was rejected and sent to judicial custody till today.

The police also submitted all the investigation report to the judge today.

Defence lawyer Abhay Chatterjee, who appealed for bail on behalf of the foreign nationals, argued that under India's Arms Act they have not committed any offence.

The two women were carrying about 11 rounds of live ammunition of nine mm pistol in their baggage when they were caught during the security check.

Deccan Airlines Security Supervisor at the Bagdogra airport Rajkumar Rai lodged an FIR at the Naxalbari police station following which the duo was arrested.

Both were on a tourist visa to India and holidaying at Darjeeling since March 24, police said adding that they were supposed to go to New Delhi yesterday.

Superintendent of Police Rahul Srivastava said the duo claimed to have licence for a nine mm pistol but could not produce anything so far in its support.

He said on their request, a photo copy of licence from California was mailed to the investigators here but that date had been expired.

Mr Srivastav said if the US tourists failed to produce any document on ammunition then legal procedure would be initiated against them under law of the land.

UNI XC PP RN1858