NIA Arrests Absconding Accused in Bihar Arms Smuggling Case
The National Investigation Agency (NIA), in a joint operation with the Bihar Special Task Force (STF), arrested an absconding accused in connection with a case pertaining to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle and live ammunition, officials said on Sunday.
The accused, identified as Karamullah, was arrested from Bihar’s Saran district on Saturday. According to an NIA statement, Karamullah, son of Abdul Gaffar, allegedly conspired with other co-accused persons to smuggle sophisticated prohibited-bore weapons from Nagaland to Bihar, with the intention of disrupting public peace and safety and endangering national security.
The case was initially registered on May 7, 2024, following the recovery of an AK-47 rifle with a lens and live ammunition from Murghatiya Bridge in Muzaffarpur by the Fakuli Police Station. Bihar Police had arrested four accused persons in the initial stage. The case was subsequently taken over by the NIA.
After completion of the investigation, the NIA filed its first supplementary chargesheet against four accused persons — Vikash Kumar, Satyam Kumar, Devmani Rai and Ahmad Ansari — on May 8, 2025, under Section 120B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Sections 13 and 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
The second supplementary chargesheet was filed against one accused, Manjoor Khan, on February 20, 2026, under Section 120B of the IPC, Sections 25(1AA), 26 and 35 of the Arms Act, and Sections 13 and 18 of the UA(P) Act.
The third supplementary chargesheet was filed against another accused, Kundan Kumar alias Kundan Bhagat, on April 15, under the same sections.
In a related development, accused Bhairaw Tripathi, son of Jagat Narayan Tripathi and a resident of Sahebganj in Muzaffarpur, was recently arrested from Muzaffarpur on August 19.
Further investigation in the case continues, the NIA added.