According to media reports, the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) is getting foreign-made weapons, especially Chinese ones, from Northeast-based militant groups. Security forces have reportedly recovered Chinese, American, Israeli and Belgian guns, small arms, rifles and grenade launchers during encounters in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh in the past two years. MHA officials have confirmed that of the total number of arms seized, roughly placed at 230, there are about 80 Chinese ones. The arms were being smuggled through Bihar and distributed along the red corridor that stretches down to Karnataka in the south1.

• 1. “Maoists procuring foreign made weapons from Northeast-based militant groups”, SATP, May 28, 2009, at http://satp.org/satporgtp/detailed_news3.asp?date3=2009%2F5%2F29#18