The Simdega police,which arrested Peoples Liberation Front of India (PLFI) members last Friday,doubt that they have seized Pakistan-made bullets and US-made carbine from them. The police had arrested PLFI sub-zonal commander Surya Don and area commander Churu alias Seyon Topo from the Orissa-Jharkhand border. The police have obtained court orders to send the seized bullets and weapon for forensic analysis. If it turns out to be foreign-made weapons,then the National Investigation Agency will step in. This is the second time in the last two months that the police have seized foreign weapons. The Hazaribagh police had on August 29 seized a US Army-issued M16 assault rifle from a Communist Party of India (Maoist) cadre. The NIA has already taken over the case. The arrested extremist Surya also had ten 7.62 mm calibre bullets bearing with markings of the Pakistan Ordnance Factory apart from what looks like .30 calibre M1 carbine. Simdega SP Prabhat Kumar said the carbine bore markings which said it was of a .303 mm calibre. The M1 was a standard issue firearm in US from 1941 and 1973,and was used by the forces in World War II. The 7.62 mm bullets are compatible with the M1. Police also found several rounds that are possibly of non-Indian origin. Only a forensic test will be able to confirm its genuineness. While investigating,they have claimed that the weapons were procured for them by their Supreme Commander Dinesh Gope. The carbine has been in use for quite sometime, said the SP. If the weapons prove to be genuine,it would be for the first time that Jharkhand Police are confiscating foreign-made weapons from PLFI. Unlike the Maoists,who have a link with rebel groups in the Northeast,there are no reports of PLFI tying up with other groups, said S N Pradhan,Inspector General (Special Branch),and spokesperson of the state police. It could have come from J&K too. Because of ceasefires and relative peace in Nagaland and Nepal,they have arms lying around with no use. Selling them off means good money, said Pradhan. He pointed out it would be too early to rule out a Northeast link to PLFI.
