NIA raids Patna residence of pharma firm’s director

• NIA raided the Patna residence of Chandra V Pratap, director of a private pharma company
• Pratap was found guilty of having Maoist links
• He was allegedly involved in the smuggling of ammunitions from Myanmar to India

THD NewsDesk, Bihar: On October 13, the National Investigation Agency(NIA) raided the residence of Chandra Vijay Pratap, director of a private pharmaceutical company, for his alleged Maoist links. The NIA seized incriminating documents from his Patna residence that prove the charges of funding sophisticated weapons illegally smuggled from Myanmar to India against him. 

Pratap was found guilty of financially aiding a Naga militant outfit, Ningkhan Sangtam. He transferred a hefty sum of money on behalf of Bhikhan Ganjhu of the Tritiya Prastuti Committee (TPC) under the alias Sushil. TPC is a fringe group of CPI(M), banned by the Indian government in 2009 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. 

Tracing back the links, NIA uncovered Pratap’s involvement in the illegal arms trade. The investigation commenced when three AK-47 rifles, and Myanmar army’s under-barrel grenade, and 1800 live cartridges were recovered from an automobile under Bayasi police station in Purnia. Last year, the discovery was made after the vehicle crossed the Dalkola check-post on the Bengal-West Bihar border last. On further inquiry, the police recovered spare parts of Kalashnikovs and UBGLs from the SUV apart from the 600 cartridges found initially.

Besides Chandra Pratap, three other persons, namely VR Kahornagam, Clearson Kavo of Manipur, and Suraj Prasad of Gorakhpur, have been arrested. 

Source: TOI