A cache including six AK-47 rifles and over 1,000 rounds of ammunition was seized in Mizoram in January. Investigators say the weapons were bound for militants in Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi | July 12, 2025 — In a major development in the fight against cross-border militancy, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday filed a chargesheet against five individuals in connection with a significant arms and ammunition seizure in Mizoram. The accused are alleged to have conspired to supply a large cache of prohibited weapons to a banned Bangladeshi militant group, exposing persistent security vulnerabilities along India’s northeastern borders.
The five individuals named in the chargesheet are Lalbiakchunga alias Divid/David, Lalthawmcheuva alias Thawma, Malsawma alias Malsawma Loncheu, Rualliansanga alias Sanga, and Alok Bikash Chakma. They face charges under multiple laws, including the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNS), 2023; the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967; the Arms Act, 1959; and the Foreigners Act, 1946. The charges reflect serious offenses related to terrorism, arms trafficking, and immigration violations.
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Seizure Traced to Bangladeshi Militant Group
The case stems from a January 15, 2025, seizure operation conducted by Mizoram Police in Saithal village, Mamit district. The NIA took over the investigation in March, re-registering it as RC-05/2025/NIA-DLI. Detailed intelligence and forensic analysis revealed that the accused had planned to deliver the weapons to the United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF)—a militant outfit active in Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts and known for insurgent activities targeting regional peace and stability.
The cache recovered included six AK-47 assault rifles, 13 magazines, and 1,050 rounds of live ammunition. The location of the bust, near the porous 722-kilometer border Mizoram shares with Myanmar and Bangladesh, is known for illicit cross-border trafficking due to difficult terrain and weak surveillance.
Mizoram’s strategic location has long made it vulnerable to arms smuggling and insurgent activity. Ethnic affiliations across borders often complicate these networks. The involvement of Alok Bikash Chakma — whose surname suggests possible ethnic ties to the Chakma community in Bangladesh — points to potential ideological or ethnic motivations behind the smuggling conspiracy.
NIA Chargesheets 5 Accused in Mizoram Prohibited Arms & Ammunition Seizure Case pic.twitter.com/eF2vBO3TjS
— NIA India (@NIA_India) July 12, 2025
This case is part of a broader pattern of transnational arms trafficking in the Northeast, where militant groups have exploited border fluidity to acquire arms and sustain operations.
The NIA’s action reflects India’s intensified crackdown on insurgent groups and illegal arms trade, particularly in the Northeast. The agency has increased coordination with state police forces and foreign intelligence partners to dismantle such networks.
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As of Saturday morning, July 12, 2025, investigations remain ongoing. The NIA is probing international supply routes, possible financial backers, and other individuals linked to the conspiracy. Officials have indicated that further arrests are likely.
This latest breakthrough highlights the persistent threat posed by cross-border militancy and reinforces the urgency of strengthening border security in India’s Northeast. The case underscores the NIA’s growing role as a key player in safeguarding national security from transnational threats.
