NIA seizes huge cache of arms, ammunition from Jharkhand's Bokaro
New Delhi, May 29: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday said that it has seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition from Jharkhand's Bokaro in connection with its ongoing probe into seizure of over 1,100 Aadhaar cards and guns from Maoists after an gunfight in March.
The case was registered by the Jharkhand Police on March 6 in Dumri police station of Giridih district.
AN NIA official said its team has recovered 10 .303 rifles, a 9mm carbine, a 9mm Browning pistol, one DBBL, two SBBL, Rs three lakh in cash, a large quantity of ammunition, levy receipts and other incriminating materials, from Lugu Pahar area of Bokaro, following a a tip off about the arms dump by the Maoist Mahavir Manjhi alias Charlees during interrogation.
"Upon receipt of the information, the NIA team, with the assistance of Jharkhand Police and CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) recovered the above-mentioned weapons and other materials under section 27 of the Indian Evidence Act," the NIA official said.
Earlier, the Jharkhand Police had arrested 15 armed Maoist cadres including functionaries of CPI-Maoist from Dumri in Giridih and recovered 12 other weapons including AK-47, Insas, SLR and .303 rifles from them.
It said 60 ATM (SBI) cards, 199 letters of thanks issued by the Allahabad Bank for opening accounts and 1,125 Aadhaar cards were also recovered during the operation.
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West Asia crisis: Jaishankar holds 4th phone call with Iranian counterpart in 2 weeks
New Delhi (PTI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to his Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi – their fourth such conversation since the West Asia crisis erupted – as New Delhi intensifies efforts to secure safe passage for over two dozen Indian-flagged merchant vessels currently stationed on either side of the Strait of Hormuz.
The two foreign ministers held the phone conversation on Thursday night.
Jaishankar and Araghchi spoke on February 28, soon after the US and Israel launched the attack on Iran that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. They also spoke on March 5 and March 10.
"Had another conversation with Iranian FM @araghchi yesterday night. Discussed bilateral matters as also BRICS related issues," the external affairs minister said on social media.
The latest phone conversation came as India ramped up efforts to secure safe passage to the Indian-flagged merchant vessels through the strategic shipping route of Strait of Hormuz that has been partially blocked by Tehran following an escalation in its conflict with the US and Israel.
Global oil and gas prices have surged after Iran virtually blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow shipping lane between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman that handles roughly 20 per cent of global oil and LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas).
An Iranian readout said Araghchi briefed his Indian counterpart on the latest situation "resulting from the aggressions and crimes" committed by the US and Israel against Iran and its consequences on the stability and security of the region and the world.
It said the Iranian foreign minister emphasised to Jaishankar Tehran's firm will to exercise the "legitimate right to self-defence".
"Araghchi emphasised the need for international and regional forums and organisations to condemn military aggression against Iran," the readout said.
"Referring to the importance of the role and position of BRICS as a forum for developing multilateral cooperation, he considered it essential for this institution to play a constructive role at the current juncture to support stability and security in the region and the world," it added.
It said Araghchi emphasised the importance of finding a way to strengthen stability and a sustainable security environment in the region and called it a "collective need".
At an inter-ministerial media briefing, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India has conveyed to all sides to adopt the path of diplomacy and dialogue to resolve the conflict as soon as possible.
We are also talking to BRICS member states so that a consensus evolves on this issue, he said.
