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Reverted edits by 14.140.189.97 (talk) (HG) (3.4.10)

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{{EngvarB|date=April 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
The '''Purulia arms drop''' happened on 17 December 1995 when unauthorised arms were dropped from an [[Antonov An-26]] aircraft in [[Purulia district]] in the state of [[West Bengal]] in [[India]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Purulia-Expose-Indias-best-kept-secret/articleshow/8106795.cms|title=Purulia Expose: India's best kept secret}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Purulia arms drop case resurfaces with new set of revelations|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-purulia-arms-drop-case-resurfaces-with-new-set-of-revelations-1993644}}</ref> The chief accused "Kim Davy" (real name [[Niels Holck]], alias Niels Christian Nielsen) claims that it was a conspiracy of the Congress [[Government of India|Indian government]] together with [[Research and Analysis Wing|RAW]] and [[MI5]] to overthrow the communist government in [[West Bengal]] and he was given assurances from the central government about his safety and return to Denmark. He further alleges that MP [[Pappu Yadav]], in association with the then [[Prime Minister of India]] [[P. V. Narasimha Rao]] facilitated his safe exit from India.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-04-29/kolkata/29486692_1_arms-drop-kim-davy-purulia |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103204520/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-04-29/kolkata/29486692_1_arms-drop-kim-davy-purulia |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 January 2013 |work=[[The Times of India]] | title=Delhi okayed and done by Purulia arms drop: Davy | date=29 April 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Purulia-arms-drop-had-govt-sanction-Davy/articleshow/8112968.cms|title=Purulia arms drop had govt sanction: Davy}}</ref>

==Background==
A [[Latvia]]n aircraft dropped a large consignment of [[weapon|arms]] including several hundred [[AK-47]] rifles and more than sixteen thousand rounds of ammunition over a large area in Jhalda, Khatanga, Belamu, Maramu villages of [[Purulia district]] on the night of 17 December 1995.<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/up-in-arms-the-bizarre-case-of-the-british-gunrunner-the-indian-rebels-and-the-missing-dane-2230475.html Up in arms: The bizarre case of the British gun-runner, the Indian rebels and the missing Dane], By Peter Popham, The Independent, March 6, 2011</ref>
Several days later, when the plane re-entered Indian [[airspace]], it was intercepted by an [[Indian Air Force]] [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21|MiG-21]] and forced to land in [[Bombay]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/138009.stm|title=Alleged gun runner's conspiracy claims|date=July 23, 1998|work=[[BBC Online]]|access-date=13 March 2013}}</ref>

==Motive and recipient==
While the true motive is shrouded in mystery and conjecture, the [[BBC]], after its investigation into it, alleged that arms were intended for the socio-spiritual organization [[Ananda Marga]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/138009.stm|title=Alleged gun runner's conspiracy claims|date=July 23, 1998|work=[[BBC Online]]|access-date=13 March 2013}}</ref> This has been disputed by the prime accused in the case, Kim Davy, who claims the central government itself was behind the arms drop to disrupt harmony and exterminate the CPI(M) supporters.<ref>{{cite news |title=Purulia Expose: India's best kept secret |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-04-28/india/29482022_1_kim-davy-purulia-arms-drop-purulia-district |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120908043640/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-04-28/india/29482022_1_kim-davy-purulia-arms-drop-purulia-district |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 September 2012 |date=28 April 2011 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=2013-03-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Purulia arms drop: Niels Holck aka Kim Davy tells his story |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/niels-holck-aka-kim-davy-tells-his-story-in-the-arms-drop/article1-1343947.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150504222831/http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/niels-holck-aka-kim-davy-tells-his-story-in-the-arms-drop/article1-1343947.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 May 2015 |newspaper=Hindustan Times}}</ref>

An Indian court in 1997 determined that the Ananda Marga group was indeed the intended recipient of the guns and ammunition.<ref>{{cite news|title=Purulia arms case: Kim Davy is a terrorist, we will get him extradited, says CBI|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-04-30/news/29490874_1_arms-drop-purulia-arms-indian-politician|access-date=13 March 2013|date=30 April 2011|publisher=[[The Economic Times]]}}</ref> Based on the pilot's testimony, along with other evidence such as a photograph of the Ananda Marga headquarters on the aircraft, the Judge ruled:<ref>{{cite web|title=June 1997 Judgment|url=http://www.cbi.gov.in/dop/judgements/padc.pdf|access-date=29 April 2011|archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/5yIiLgzW0?url=http://www.cbi.gov.in/dop/judgements/padc.pdf|archive-date=29 April 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> "as per the materials available I hold that it has been established from the materials on record that the places where the arms were targeted to be dropped were of Anandamargies and precisely three storied white building was the target point and at that target point the arms were tried to be dropped from a flying aircraft and the aircraft has been pin pointed as per the evidence and materials on record."
However, despite the passage of years, many details of the incident are wrapped in mystery, and there has been considerable speculation as to the purpose and modality of the operation.

==Arrest and sentencing==
The crew of the aircraft consisted of five Latvian citizens and Peter Bleach, a [[United Kingdom|British]] citizen and an ex [[Special Air Service]] operative turned [[mercenary]] who was based in [[Yorkshire]] and involved in arms dealing.{{Citation needed|date=October 2008}} (However, [[Annie Machon]], the former [[MI5]] officer, accuses Bleach of being an [[MI6]] agent in her book "Spies, Lies and Whistleblowers". In numerous interviews, Bleach has always evaded questions on this subject and has declined to answer questions on his military background.{{Citation needed|date=October 2008}}) According to Bleach, he told [[Defence Export Services Organisation]] and local [[North Yorkshire Police]] Special Branch about the planned delivery of weapons to India in August 1995 as soon as he discovered it was illegal. He claimed that he continued to arrange to buy a plane from the Latvian state airline with police approval. However, North Yorkshire Police's Special Branch denied this.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/138009.stm|title=Alleged gun runner's conspiracy claims|date=July 23, 1998|work=[[BBC Online]]|access-date=13 March 2013}}</ref><ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/up-in-arms-the-bizarre-case-of-the-british-gunrunner-the-indian-rebels-and-the-missing-dane-2230475.html Up in arms: The bizarre case of the British gun-runner, the Indian rebels and the missing Dane], By Peter Popham, The Independent, March 6, 2011</ref>

Peter Bleach and the Latvian crew were arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment while alleged organiser [[Niels Holck|Niels Christian Nielsen]] (aka Kim Peter Davy), a [[Denmark|Danish]] citizen and member of the [[Ananda Marga]] group,<ref>[http://www.nisat.org/publications/armsfixers/Chapter2.html The Day it Rained Arms in India], Chapter 2 of [http://www.nisat.org/publications/armsfixers/ The Arms Fixers: Controlling the Brokers and Shipping Agents]</ref> escaped. Later, an [[Interpol]] [[red notice]] was issued against him. Following the intervention of [[Russia]]n authorities, the Latvian crew (who gained Russian citizenship while in Indian custody) were later [[pardon]]ed and released in July 2000. An appeal has been submitted by the pilots lawyer before the Calcutta High Court in March 2000 challenging the trial results and the judgement but it is still pending. Peter Bleach, too, was released on 4 February 2004, via a [[President of India|presidential]] pardon, allegedly due to persistent British Government pressure.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/other/article30221314.ece|title=The release of Peter Bleach|date=27 February 2004|work=[[Frontline (magazine)|Frontline]]|access-date=22 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3464505.stm|title=Pardoned arms dealer back in UK|date=6 February 2004|work=[[BBC Online]]|access-date=22 December 2020}}</ref>

In 2007 Kim Davy was traced by Denmark authorities and on 9 April 2010 Danish government decided to extradite Kim Davy to India but Danish authorities failed to successfully defend their decision in the Danish high court. The court, therefore, refused extradition of Kim Davy to India. Further, Danish authorities decided not to appeal the high court judgement to the Supreme Court.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-07-08/india/29751081_1_kim-davy-danish-authorities-danish-court | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105204343/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-07-08/india/29751081_1_kim-davy-danish-authorities-danish-court | url-status=dead | archive-date=5 November 2012 | work=[[The Times of India]] | title=Danish court decision on Kim Davy can encourage terrorists: India | date=8 July 2011}}</ref>

==Recent development==
On 8 October 2008 the extradition of the key accused, Kim Davy, real name [[Niels Holck]], was close to being finalized as the government had, in principle, agreed on giving "sovereign assurance" to the Danish authorities on their conditions, as well as bringing about some changes in the existing extradition law. One of the conditions Denmark had set included the waiving of the death penalty if Davy was convicted by a court for his involvement in the dropping of a huge cache of arms and ammunition from an aircraft in West Bengal in 1995.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Purulia_arms_case_Govt_agrees_to_waive_death_penalty/rssarticleshow/3571584.cms|title=Purulia arms case: Govt agrees to waive death penalty|last=Mohan|first=Vishwa|author2=Subodh Ghildiyal |date=8 October 2008|work=[[Indiatimes]]|access-date=8 March 2011|location=New Delhi}}</ref>

On 28 April 2011 Kim Davy came forward to allege that both the Indian government (Congress party) as well as its intelligence agency [[Research and Analysis Wing|RAW]] were aware of the precise details of the arms drop well in advance, and that the whole operation was conducted with the implicit agreement of the Indian authorities. Both Peter Bleach and Kim Davy claimed that the aim of the arms drop was to help anti Left government dissidents and to create a pretext to impose [[President's Rule]] in West Bengal.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-05-31/india/28304324_1_kim-davy-alias-arms-drop-denmark-government|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523184449/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-05-31/india/28304324_1_kim-davy-alias-arms-drop-denmark-government|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 May 2012|title=India knew about Purulia arms drop: Accused|date=31 May 2010|access-date=28 April 2011|work=[[The Times of India]]|location=New Delhi}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-04-28/india/29482022_1_kim-davy-purulia-arms-drop-purulia-district|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120908043640/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-04-28/india/29482022_1_kim-davy-purulia-arms-drop-purulia-district|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 September 2012|title=Purulia Exposé: India's best kept secret|date=28 Apr 2011|access-date=28 April 2011|work=[[The Times of India]]|location=New Delhi}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Purulia-arms-drop-was-RAW-op-to-destabilise-Left-govt--say-accused/783288/|title=Purulia arms drop was RAW op to destabilise Left govt, say accused|date=29 Apr 2011|work=[[The Indian Express]]|location=New Delhi}}</ref>

On 29 April 2011 [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] denied all allegations of involvement or collusion in the arms drop.<ref>[http://www.inewsone.com/2011/04/29/no-indian-government-role-in-purulia-arms-drop-cbi/46996 ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322030749/http://www.inewsone.com/2011/04/29/no-indian-government-role-in-purulia-arms-drop-cbi/46996 |date=March 22, 2012 }}</ref> Questions have been raised if Kim Davy's 'sensational revelation' was aimed to stall the extradition efforts of India.<ref>[http://www.dailypioneer.com/335169/MI5-RAW-jointly-involved-in-Purulia-arms-drop-says-Davy.html ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110502071026/http://www.dailypioneer.com/335169/MI5-RAW-jointly-involved-in-Purulia-arms-drop-says-Davy.html |date=May 2, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/current-affairs/no-evidence-against-politicianspurulia-arms-drop-case_539385.html |title=No evidence against politicians in Purulia arms drop case - PTI |publisher=Moneycontrol.com |date=2011-04-29 |access-date=2013-03-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/purulia-was-raw-mi5-operation-to-overthrow-basu-bleach-davy/articleshow/8113513.cms | work=The Times Of India | title=Purulia was RAW-MI5 operation to overthrow Basu: Bleach, Davy}}</ref> Some political analysts have also questioned the 'timing of the revelation' which may help the Left parties in the ongoing state government assembly elections.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/cong-tars-bjp-left-with-same-brush/666911.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015023353/http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/cong-tars-bjp-left-with-same-brush/666911.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-10-15 |title=Cong tars BJP, Left with same brush, IBN Live News |publisher=Ibnlive.in.com |date=2011-04-29 |access-date=2013-03-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesnow.tv/videoshow/4371743.cms|title=Kim Davy interview at Timesnow}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesnow.tv/videoshow/4371744.cms|title=Peter Bleach, J. K. Dutt and Kim Davy interview-part II at Timesnow}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesnow.tv/videoshow/4371745.cms|title=Peter Bleach, J. K. Dutt and Kim Davy interview-part III at Timesnow}}</ref>

On 30 June 2011 [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] has been denied to extradite Kim Davy a.k.a. Niels Holck to India for further proceedings in India. The Danish High Court, after hearing evidence from Peter Bleach who described his personal experiences in prison in Kolkata, dismissed the plea on the grounds of "torture or other inhuman treatment".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2147665.ece|title=Danish court says Davy cannot be extradited to India | location=Chennai, India | work=The Hindu|first=Vinay|last=Kumar|date=30 June 2011
}}</ref>

The [[Bangladesh]]i [[Member of Parliament|MP]] and retired Major-General [[Mohammad Shubid Ali Bhuiyan|Mohammed Shubid Ali Bhuiyan]] had been accused of involvement in the case.<ref>{{cite news|last=Roy|first=Anirban| url=http://portal.thebengalpost.com/index.php/index/newsdetails/Purulia-armsdrop-man-to-grace-Vijay-Diwas-event-257228321355500635 | work=The Bengal Post | title=Purulia armsdrop man to ‘grace’ Vijay Diwas event! | date=15 December 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://bdnews24.com/details.php?cid=1&id=238215&hb=1 | work=bdnews24.com | title=Armsdrop story returns to haunt AL MP | date=15 December 2012}}</ref> The CBI had submitted to the [[Calcutta High Court]] two [[end-user certificate]]s, required for international arms deals, allegedly signed by Bhuiyan in his capacity as the [[Chief of staff|PSO]] of the Armed Forces Division of the office of the then prime minister of Bangladesh, [[Khaleda Zia|Begum Khaleda Zia]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/b-desh-involved-in-purulia-arms-dropping-case-report_591303.html | work=[[Zee News]] | title=B’ desh involved in Purulia arms dropping case: Report | date=30 December 2009}}</ref> The certificates had been recovered by the British police, who assisted the CBI in the probe, in raids on Bleach's estate. One of the certificates – issued on 25 November 1995 – authorized Bleach's front company, Border Technology and Innovations Ltd, to conclude the contract with the Bulgarian suppliers stating that the arms ''will be used by the [[Bangladesh Army]] and will not be exported to any other country''. The boxes containing the weapons, found in Purulia, had been marked for [[Rajendrapur Cantonment]] in Bangladesh.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sharan|first=Abhishek|title=Bangladesh linked to arms drop in Purulia|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/India/Bangladesh-linked-to-arms-drop-in-Purulia/Article1-491941.aspx|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125062350/http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/India/Bangladesh-linked-to-arms-drop-in-Purulia/Article1-491941.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 January 2013|access-date=15 December 2012|newspaper=Hindustan Times|date=December 30, 2009}}</ref> However, the Government of Bangladesh as well as Bhuiyan has denied the allegations and maintain that the certificates were forged by Bleach's contacts in Bangladesh.<ref>{{cite news|title='Bangladesh had no link'|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=184330|access-date=15 December 2012|newspaper=The Daily Star|date=May 5, 2011}}</ref>

In June 2014, Purulia arms drop case resurfaced with new revelations after the release of a Danish documentary ''The Arms Drop''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-purulia-arms-drop-case-resurfaces-with-new-set-of-revelations-1993644|title=Purulia arms drop case resurfaces with new set of revelations}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://scroll.in/article/713727/danish-documentary-the-arms-drop-revisits-the-unsolved-mystery-of-the-1995-purulia-arms-drop|title=Danish documentary revisits the unsolved mystery of the 1995 Purulia arms drop}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timesnow.tv/Purulia-arms-drop-Pappu-Yadav-ducks-questions/videoshow/4456591.cms|title=Purulia arms drop: Pappu Yadav ducks questions}}</ref>

In March 2015, a book titled ''The Night it Rained Guns: Unravelling the Purulia Arms Drop Conspiracy'' was released.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/books/unravelling-the-purulia-arms-drop-conspiracy/article1-1324906.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150311011957/http://www.hindustantimes.com/books/unravelling-the-purulia-arms-drop-conspiracy/article1-1324906.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 March 2015|title=Unravelling the Purulia arms drop conspiracy}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/did-the-cia-mastermind-purulia-arms-drop-book-review-115030900242_1.html|title=Did the CIA mastermind Purulia arms drop? (Book Review)}}</ref>

==In popular media==
* The story of the 2017 film [[Jagga Jasoos]], starring [[Ranbir Kapoor]] and [[Katrina Kaif]], revolves around the infamous high-profile case of Purulia arms drop.
* [https://dogwoof.com/thearmsdrop Arms Drop] A 2016 Danish documentary about this case. Retrieved September 2020
* Banged up Abroad “undercover arms dealer “

== References ==
{{Reflist|40em}}

[[Category:1990s in West Bengal]]
[[Category:1995 in India]]
[[Category:Arms trafficking]]
[[Category:Rao administration]]
[[Category:Crime in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Denmark–India relations]]
[[Category:Purulia]]

Purulia arms drop case - Revision history

imported>Serols: Reverted edits by 14.140.189.97 (talk) (HG) (3.4.10)