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CBI draws Interpol attention to supply of arms, explosives to north-east, J&K

Central Bureau of Investigation director D R Karthikeyan has drawn Interpol's attention to the illicit inflow of arms and explosives into India's north-eastern states and Jammu and Kashmir, and that it was seriously threatening peace and order.

Karthikeyan informed the international police organisation that several weapons and communication devices had been seized and the country of origin ascertained. But it was not possible to track down those who had bought these arms, he said.

Karthikeyan, who attended the 15th Asian Regional Conference of Interpol at Canberra, Australia, from February 16 to 19, emphasised the need for sellers of arms and explosives to maintain complete records so that every item could be tracked down.

The CBI chief felt only fear of detection would deter terrorists. For this, he said, there should be closer and whole-hearted co-operation among all member nations. He drew the attention of the conference to the loss of lives in the Bombay blasts on March 12, 1993 and Rajiv Gandhi's assassination on May 20, 1991.

He said countries manufacturing arms and explosives should own up primary responsibility to ensure that such material does not fall into the wrong hands. Karthikeyan urged member nations to respond to the call given by Prime Minister I K Gujral while inaugurating Interpol's 66th general assembly session at New Delhi last October that an international convention should be called to finalise a universal extradition treaty.

Karthikeyan also acknowledged Interpol's assistance in investigating the dropping of arms at Purulia in West Bengal in December 1995.

The Canberra conference passed as many as 12 resolutions, the most important being that all member countries in the region take necessary steps to prevent the return of terrorism in all forms.

The conference with ''Asian regional effectiveness, appreciating diversity, advancing cooperation'' as its theme hoped to focus on the most effective and collective use of Interpol in the Asian region. The Indian delegation too had bilateral discussions with various other delegations on matters of mutual interest.

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