ASSAM: GRP recovers .22 pistol, ammunition in toilet of Howrah-bound Kamrup Express

GUWAHATI | July 29, 2019:

In Assam, the Goverment Railway Police (GRP) on Sunday, recovered a
.22 pistol along with 30 rounds of live ammunition in a toilet of Howrah-bound Kamrup Express.

A GRP official said, that the pistol and ammunition were found taped on the ceiling of a toilet in the train. Two scenarios emerge after the finding: First, the owner was travelling on the train and hid it to avoid arrest. Second, the consignment was sent for someone who would have collected it at some point before getting off the train

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However, there were a number of related cases in the state. Since 2012, at least nine country-made pistols, two Australian made 9mm pistols, two7.65 Italian pistols, one Chinese .22 pistol, one Air Pistol, one Czech Republic made 9mm pistol, a sparking rifle, a .32 Revolver and five mortar firing pins were seized by the GRP.

As per official sources, "In most of the cases, the consignments were sent unattended. Subsequently, ghost carriers, having information of the consignment's whereabouts, collected them at Guwahati or other railway stations, from where these items reach their destinations. Payments were made through hawala networks,"

The official added an investigation has already revealed that ammunition, mostly that of AK series rifles, were most smuggled via railways.

"Out of the total 11,824 rounds of ammunition seized by the GRP since 2012, at least 970 rounds were of AK47 alone. Besidesthat, there were 391 rounds of 9mm pistols followed by 126 rounds of 7.62 pistols and 120 rounds of 7.65 pistols," the official also said.

Most of the arms and ammunitions seized were found to be Chinese made and were found to be coming from Dimapur which is known for its underground market of illegal arms and ammunition. Militants and gunrunners across from Myanmar smuggle them through Nagaland and Assam to reach other parts of the country.

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"Most of the bullets for 9mm and other small firearms were travelling from Dimapur to UP, Delhi, Bihar and West Bengal from where they might have been sent to other parts of the country too," the official added.