Arms racket: UP STF arrests four police personnel

Lucknow, May 14 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh Police on Friday arrested four policemen for an arms racket involving the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the state police.

According to the police the arrested also included a member of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC).

In all six policemen and two civilians have been arrested so far for supplying arms and ammunition to Maoists.

Constable Sushil Kumar of 30 PAC based at Gonda, armourers Rajesh Shahi posted at Gorakhpur and Amar Singh and Jitendra Singh posted in Faizabad have been arrested.

The names of these three came up during interrogation of policemen who were arrested earlier.

On April 30, a Special Task Force (STF) had arrested five police personnel and a retired sub-inspector following inputs that a large quantity of cartridges were being smuggled out of the CRPF group center at Rampur to various criminal gangs and to Naxals.

Over 5,000 live cartridges, 16 magazines of Indian Small Arms Systems (INSAS) rifles, .25rifles, Self Loading Rifles (SLR) and AK-47s was recovered.

During search operations at different places police have recovered over 245 kilograms of empty shells.

Meanwhile, the UP STF has widened its probe to other states like Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.

Investigators have recently questioned few senior CRPF officials in connection with the probe and have asked for records of the armoury in states affected by Naxal violence.he UP STF has asked its counterparts in other states like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Orrisa and top CRPF brass to extend help.

The officials from various states have been asked by the STF to share information and records.

The STF is likely to submit an investigation report CRPF and to the Uttar Pradesh Government soon.

The CRPF has already initiated a Court of Inquiry (CoI) against an Assistant Commandant rank official and other personnel of the force while it has suspended three officials.(ANI)