Lucknow, May 01: In a shocking development, the Uttar Pradesh Special task Force (STF) on Friday arrested two CRPF jawans and two others on charges of stealing arms and ammunitions from the armoury to allegedly supply them to Naxals.
The arrests were made after STF conducted massive raids on CRPF camps located in Moradabad, Rampur and Jhansi of Uttar Pradesh in view of intelligence inputs that some CRPF men were allegedly selling arms and ammunition to the banned CPI-M ultras.
The STF zeroed on the CRPF men after investigations into the Dantewada massacre, in which, ironically, 75 CRPF men were brutally massacred by the Naxals, revealed that the ammunition used by the ultras was supplied to troops in UP.
Confirming the raids and the subsequent arrests, Director General of UP Police, Brij Lal, said that the police fears that the network of the racket was large and has been running for more than six months and that the arrested men are being questioned about the possibile of involvement of more persons.
Elaborating on the STF operation, Brij Lal said, “We had received information about suspicious activities of some CRPF men, who were allegedly supplying arms and ammunition to the Naxals.”
“A team was formed under STF SSP Naveen Arora and Additional SP Satyendra Singh to investigate into the matter. Raids were carried out in Moradabad, Rampur and Jhansi and arrested Vinod Paswan and Dinesh Singh of the CRPF, “he said” he said.
“The STF also picked up one retired Sub-Inspector of Provincial Armed Constabulary, identified as Yashodhanad Singh, who was seen moving in different armoury centres of the CRPF and PAC and collecting empty shells of bullets fired during the training and later replacing it with live ammunition,” Lal said.
Over 5,000 live cartridges, 16 magazines of INSAS rifles, .25 bore guns, SLR and AK 47s were recovered besides 245 kg of empty shells, besides a large number of arms components, mobile phones and Rs 1.76 lakh in cash was recovered from the arrested men.
“Going by the size of recovery, it is clear that the weapons were being supplied to some big organisation which could even be a Naxal outfit. Further details will be known only after completion of the investigations,” he said.
The CRPF, meanwhile, has suspended both its personnel arrested by the STF and ordered an immediate Court of Enquiry.
“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,” CRPF Director General Vikram Srivastava had informed.
—-Agencies