NIA takes over Mizo arms haul case

The National Investigation Agency has taken over investigation of a major arms haul near Mizoram’s Khawlailung village. The seizure was made on December 2 last year by Mizoram Police and Assam Rifles personnel.

Investigators in Mizoram believe the seized arms — including 39 grenades, 10 modified AK-47 rifles and 4 MA3 MK2 rifles plus ammunition — came from Chinese arms dealers through Myanmar and were headed towards armed rebels in Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts.

The arms haul led to the arrest of two persons, Thangdeihtung and Liankhanmanga, both aged 30 and residents of Champhai town near the India-Myanmar border.

They had been given the consignment near Champhai by a man who told them one person (who he did not name) would pick it up from them at Lunglei town further south.