The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested an absconding accused in a case involving the alleged smuggling of AK-47 rifles from Nagaland to Bihar, officials said on October 30.
The accused, identified as Sandeep Kumar Sinha, was arrested from Vaishali district in Bihar on October 29. According to an NIA press release, he was apprehended at Town Police Station in Vaishali at around 10.30 pm. A car, mobile phones, SIM cards and memory cards were seized from his possession.
The agency alleged that Sinha conspired with other accused persons to smuggle prohibited-bore weapons, including AK-47 rifles, from Nagaland to Bihar. The alleged operation was intended to disrupt public peace and endanger national security, the NIA said.
The case, registered as RC-11/2024/NIA/DLI, originated from a First Information Report (FIR) lodged at Fakuli Police Station in Muzaffarpur district of Bihar on May 7, 2024. The case followed the recovery of an AK-47 rifle fitted with a lens, along with live ammunition, near Murghatiya Bridge.
The NIA subsequently took over the investigation and initially arrested four people for their alleged involvement in the illegal weapons smuggling network.
During the investigation, the agency filed three supplementary chargesheets against six accused persons under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, the Arms Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
The agency had earlier arrested two other accused in connection with the case. Bhairav Tripathi was arrested on August 19, 2026, while Karamullah was arrested on August 22, 2026.
The latest arrest is part of the ongoing investigation into the alleged interstate weapons smuggling network. The NIA said further investigation into the case was underway.
