01-10-2007, 10:45 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Arms haul in Kochi from Dubai container </b>
Pioneer News Service | Kochi
Godown owned by IGP's brother used for storage
Kochi Customs stumbled upon a huge cache of sophisticated arms from a container stored in a Cochin Port godown owned by the brother of a controversial senior IPS officer who holds the rank of Inspector-General of Police.
The container, which was shipped to Kochi from Dubai on January 4, ha<b>d 810 boxes. Officials, during a routine check, found high calibre guns. A subsequent search of 110 boxes has yielded 97 guns, of which 49 are meant for training and 38 are rifles. </b>Â
Rema Mathew, Additional Commissioner of Customs, speaking to mediapersons said the <b>guns were shipped along with knocked-out furniture</b>. Officials are continuing their search and the exact number of weapons being smuggled in can be ascertained only after all the boxes are opened.
<b>The seized guns are manufactured by Beretta, Walther and Gamo in Germany, Spain and Italy. </b><b>The guns meant for training are from Gamo. A person who receives training with these guns can operate any sophisticated rifle, according to experts.</b>
Sources said the role of Islamists is suspected in this attempt to smuggle guns into the country.
Kerala Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan told mediapersons in Thiruvananthapuram that the Government has ordered an immediate inquiry into the seizure with ADGP, Intelligence, Jacob Punnose, heading the probe team.
Meanwhile, the police and Customs conducted a raid on the house of OK Koya in Chavakkad in Thrissur district. The Thrissur district Suprendiendent of Police T Chandran told The Pioneer said that as the shipment was addressed in Koya's name, there was a raid on his house. He refused to comment further .
<b>Customs has also taken Anand Pai</b>, owner of Premier Export who acted as the import agent for the container, into custody . A raid is being conducted in his offices in Kochi and Mattancherry.
<b>The container was parked in a godown of Asian Terminal Centre which is owned by Tissin J Thachankery, brother of controversial IPS officer Tomin J Thachankery. The music studio owned by the IPS officer's wife is in the midst of a piracy controversy.</b>
<b>Directorate of Revenue Intelligence sources told The Pioneer that there was a tip off from intelligence agencies about a possible influx of arms through Cochin Port and that some international organisations were behind this move.</b>
The State police have once again been caught on the wrong foot and there are several versions emerging on the present seizure. According to top police officials, there had been tip offs from Central intelligence agencies on the reported movement of containers within the State from ports like Mangalore and Kochi and there was also information about the possibility of arms transfer through the State.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Are they meant for Islamic or xitian or Maoist terrorist?
Kerala had becaome terrorist hub another frontier.
Pioneer News Service | Kochi
Godown owned by IGP's brother used for storage
Kochi Customs stumbled upon a huge cache of sophisticated arms from a container stored in a Cochin Port godown owned by the brother of a controversial senior IPS officer who holds the rank of Inspector-General of Police.
The container, which was shipped to Kochi from Dubai on January 4, ha<b>d 810 boxes. Officials, during a routine check, found high calibre guns. A subsequent search of 110 boxes has yielded 97 guns, of which 49 are meant for training and 38 are rifles. </b>Â
Rema Mathew, Additional Commissioner of Customs, speaking to mediapersons said the <b>guns were shipped along with knocked-out furniture</b>. Officials are continuing their search and the exact number of weapons being smuggled in can be ascertained only after all the boxes are opened.
<b>The seized guns are manufactured by Beretta, Walther and Gamo in Germany, Spain and Italy. </b><b>The guns meant for training are from Gamo. A person who receives training with these guns can operate any sophisticated rifle, according to experts.</b>
Sources said the role of Islamists is suspected in this attempt to smuggle guns into the country.
Kerala Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan told mediapersons in Thiruvananthapuram that the Government has ordered an immediate inquiry into the seizure with ADGP, Intelligence, Jacob Punnose, heading the probe team.
Meanwhile, the police and Customs conducted a raid on the house of OK Koya in Chavakkad in Thrissur district. The Thrissur district Suprendiendent of Police T Chandran told The Pioneer said that as the shipment was addressed in Koya's name, there was a raid on his house. He refused to comment further .
<b>Customs has also taken Anand Pai</b>, owner of Premier Export who acted as the import agent for the container, into custody . A raid is being conducted in his offices in Kochi and Mattancherry.
<b>The container was parked in a godown of Asian Terminal Centre which is owned by Tissin J Thachankery, brother of controversial IPS officer Tomin J Thachankery. The music studio owned by the IPS officer's wife is in the midst of a piracy controversy.</b>
<b>Directorate of Revenue Intelligence sources told The Pioneer that there was a tip off from intelligence agencies about a possible influx of arms through Cochin Port and that some international organisations were behind this move.</b>
The State police have once again been caught on the wrong foot and there are several versions emerging on the present seizure. According to top police officials, there had been tip offs from Central intelligence agencies on the reported movement of containers within the State from ports like Mangalore and Kochi and there was also information about the possibility of arms transfer through the State.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Are they meant for Islamic or xitian or Maoist terrorist?
Kerala had becaome terrorist hub another frontier.