UP Police arrest two CRPF personnel for selling arms to Naxals

Lucknow, Apr 30 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh Police on Friday arrested four people including, two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel on charges that they have been selling arms to Naxals.

The UP Special Task Force (STF) raided the CRPF's Rampur camp and arrested the personnel this morning.

Addressing the media, UP Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Brij Lal said ammunition and empty cartridge shells have been recovered from the arrested.

He said the state police have launched a separate inquiry as the UP police suspects that the personnel were selling arms to Naxals.

UP Police also conducted raids at CRPF camps in Jhansi, Ranchi and Moradabad and arrested Vinod Paswan and Dinesh Singh.

The raids were made following an operation based on a tip off received in the aftermath of the Dantewada massacre, in which 76 personnel were killed by the Naxals.

Lal said that one retired sub-inspector of Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), identified as Yashodhanad Singh, was seen moving in different armoury centres of the CRPF and PAC collecting empty shells of bullets fired during training.

UP Police claimed that shells were later replaced at the main Rampur armory with live bullets and finally supplied to Naxals.

Lal said the police have recovered over 5,000 live cartridges, 16 magazines of INSAS rifles, .25 bore guns, SLR and AK 47s, 245 kilograms of empty shells, mobile phones and Rs 1.76 lakh cash.

He said the network of the racket was large and has been running for over six months and the police are questioning four people to look at the possibility of involvement of more persons.

Meanwhile, the CRPF, has suspended both its personnel arrested by the STF and ordered an immediate Court of Enquiry (CoI)

"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," said CRPF Director General Vikram Srivastava (ANI)