DIMAPUR, June 2 � About a month and half after the exposure of the ammo scandal that has rocked the State Police, an Armed Branch SI whose role in the scandal was under investigation has been arrested.
Identified as Sashitsungba Ao, 48, the cop-gone-rogue gunrunner was arrested Wednesday morning from Chumukedima Complex while trying to sell a Denmark-made Medium Machine Gun to customers who were undercover Special Branch sleuths.
Previously attached to Central Store, Chumukedima, he had been put under temporary suspension along with SP Wokha and an ASI following an SIT enquiry into their role in the April 20 Nagaland Police ammo sale scandal.
Briefing newsmen, Dy SP Israel G Xuivi of the Special Branch Dimapur said his men had been closely following the �suspect� and hatching a trap to nab him for almost a week.
He said the suspect had been extremely cautious in his dealing with the undercover sleuths. After much negotiation, it was decided that the exchange would take place at the suspect�s residence itself, DSP Israel informed, narrating the sequence of events that culminated with the arrest.
Along with the MMG, three magazines were seized from his possession, the DSP informed, adding that the weapons are, however, foreign made and not from police arsenal.
During interrogation, the arrested ABSI is reported to have confessed that he was planning on selling the gun at Rs 7 lakh minimum.
It may be mentioned that Sr SP Wokha S Sejongmong Sangtam was placed under suspension earlier this month in connection with the case regarding sale of ammunition issued to Nagaland Police for annual classification firing which is under investigation.
The case had erupted with the arrest of a Nagaland Police constable by Assam Rifles troops on April 20 last. The NP cop, an armourer attached with Police Central Store, Chumukedima, is believed to have been involved in siphoning off practice ammunition being allotted to Nagaland Police for firing to NSCN-IM since last seven years.
While police sources say the SIT has found concrete evidence of the Wokha SP�s involvement, it maintains that no evidence has been found with regard to the report that the ammunition were being supplied to the NSCN-IM. Several other police officers are also reported to be under investigation in the case.
