CB-CID to probe illegal pistol network

Police sources said Director General of Police T K Rajendran has issued an order in this regard after the interrogation of the accused apparently revealed the involvement of others including police personnel and politicians. Head constable Parameswaran, who was arrested in Tiruchy by the Organised Crime Intelligence Unit from Thanjavur, had allegedly confessed during interrogation that he bought pistols for a few advocates, too. 

Mohamed Rafeeq, who is lodged in Puzhal prison in connection with cases investigated by the National Investigation Agency and CB-CID, is said to have played a key role in the smuggling of guns from West Bengal. He is also expected to be taken into custody by the crime branch team to probe how the network was formed. 

The racket was brought to light after the arrest of Pradeep (27) from Perambur and his associate Kamal (27) from Thiurumangalam, from Thiruvottriyur railway station on January 26, when they disembarked from an express train from Guwahati. The next day, a special team from the Organised Crime Intelligence Unit (OCIU) from Thanjavur arrested head constable Parameswaran, Nagaraj of Ayanavaram and Siva from Pattukottai in Thanjavur from a lodge in Tiruchy. On January 29, Nagaraj’s mother Kuppu and sister Nagalakshmi, too, were arrested, Rs 62,500 fake and soiled notes were seized from the two.