A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Patna on Friday convicted five individuals for their involvement in the theft of sophisticated AK‑47 assault rifles from a government ordinance factory in Madhya Pradesh, a crime that occurred in 2012 and has lingered in the Indian legal system for more than a decade. 

In a judgment delivered by NIA Special Judge Madhukar Singh, Suresh Thakur, a retired Army constable, along with Purusottam Lal Rajak, Niyazul Rehman, Mohammad Imran Alam and Shamsher Alam, were found guilty and handed down 10 years of rigorous imprisonment each. The court sentenced all five to judicial custody immediately following the verdict.

The case, which was transferred to the NIA given its national security implications, revolved around the alleged theft of AK‑47 rifles — a class of prohibited bore weapons — from the ordnance factory. These rifles are typically restricted to use by the armed forces and other designated security agencies in India due to their high military utility and strict arms‑control regulations. 

In addition to the convictions, the court acquitted nine other accused — including Shivendra alias Shailendra Rajak, Chandrawati Devi, Rajiv alias Chunnu Singh, Rizwana Begum, and Manoj Singh alias Manji — citing a lack of sufficient evidence to link them conclusively to the offense. The judge noted that while certain charges had been framed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the prosecution failed to substantiate these during the trial. 

Legal experts say such long‑running cases underscore the challenges Indian investigative and judicial systems face in prosecuting complex arms thefts, especially when they involve multiple accused, extensive evidence trails, and inter‑state elements. The NIA’s involvement reflected the gravity of the offense, given the strategic sensitivity of stolen assault rifles entering potentially illicit circulation. 

This conviction marks a significant milestone in the decade‑long judicial process, bringing closure to a theft that had raised serious concerns about the security of defence establishments and the illegal arms‑trafficking networks in India.

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