Cross-border weapons and explosives ring discovered in Mizoram; main suspects detained

Mizoram:The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has apprehended a major accused from Mizoram’s capital, Aizwal, and disrupted a cross-border network of smugglers of weapons, ammunition, and explosives that was operating in northeastern states.

One Lalngaihawma, a citizen of Mizoram’s Mamit region, has been identified as the accused. He was apprehended on Thursday as a result of information pertaining to the activities of a large-scale, well-organized illicit network that supplies weapons and ammunition to several states in the northeast.

According to NIA investigations, the accused and others were involved in the trafficking of weapons, ammo, and explosive materials both across the border and in the northeastern regions. He was collaborating with a number of agents, including rebel organizations located on the opposite side of the international border.

The accused had already given similar terror gear to a number of people in India and overseas as part of their plot. It is believed that these illegal weapons and explosives have been employed in horrific terrorist attacks and other criminal actions in various places.

The arrest followed the filing of a charge under Sections 120B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Sections 18 of the UA(P) Act of 1967, Section 6 of the Explosive Substances Act 1908, and Sections 25 (1) (a) and 25 (1AA) of the Arms Act by the anti-terror agency in December 2023.