Bihar, Oct 09 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has seized a significant cache of arms, ammunition, and cash during a raid in Bihar, linked to a 2024 arms smuggling case. The operation was carried out on Wednesday at the residence of Sandeep Kumar Sinha, alias Chhotu Lala, in Vaishali district.
Officials reported that the recovered items included a 9 mm pistol, 18 live 9 mm cartridges, two pistol magazines, a double barrelled 12 bore gun, 35 live 12-bore cartridges, and Rs 4.21 lakh in cash.
Sinha is reportedly a close associate of the prime accused, Vikash Kumar, and an active participant in the arms trafficking network under investigation. The case initially came to light when Bihar Police recovered an AK-47 rifle and live ammunition, after which the NIA took over the probe in August 2024.
So far, four accused Vikash Kumar, Satyam Kumar, Devmani Rai alias Anish, and Md Ahmad Ansari—have been arrested and chargesheeted. Another accused, Manjoor Khan, is currently in Beur Jail, Patna.
The NIA confirmed that investigations are ongoing to dismantle the interstate arms smuggling network that trafficked weapons from Nagaland to Bihar.