3 held, cops probe links with ‘agency from across border’

BIHAR

Policeontuesdayarrestedthree local criminals from Raxaul, bor- dering Nepal, who are suspected to be part of an international gang that could have links with the ISI.

The trio have confessed that they unsuccessfully tried to blow up a railway track at Ghorasahan in East Champaran district on October 1, 2016, the police said. It is suspected that they could have played a role in the Kanpur Dehat train derailment last November.

East Champaran SP Jitendra Ranasaid:“wearrestedumashankar Patel, Moti Paswan and Mukeshyadavinconnectionwith the murders of Arun Ram and Deepak Ram. The three accused revealedthatthegangkilledarun and Deepak because of their failuretoblowuptherailwaytrackat Ghorasahan on October 1.”

Three members of the gang, includingkingpinbrajkishoregiri, Munahid Ansari and Shambhu, have already been arrested by Nepal Police, while two other members — Gajendra Jha and Rakesh Yadav — are absconding.

SP Rana said the arrested trio was given Rs 3 lakh by Giri, who had been in touch with a Dubai gang. “Preliminary investigation suggests the involvement of an intelligence agency from across the border. We have passed on our inputs to the ATS in Patna and intelligence agencies,” he said.

Askedaboutthegang’salleged involvement in the Kanpur Dehat derailment, in which more than 140 people were killed, Rana said thepolicesuspectedtheirinvolvement in this and other such cases, and these are being probe. “We have been in touch with Nepal Police to trace the main link of the gang, who could have been funding them,” he said.