India to get access to Purulia arms drop mastermind

NEW DELHI: After 15 long years, India will have access to Purulia arms drop mastermind Kim Davy alias Niels Christian Nielsen but the bargain struck with Denmark appears too lop-sided for India to have complete satisfaction.

Denmark has agreed to extradite Davy only in exchange of an assurance from Indian authorities that even if found guilty, Davy would have to be sent back to Denmark within three weeks to serve the sentence there.

Purulia arms drop led to a proliferation of lethal firearms reaching gangs who feasted on the cache including AK-47s after the plane hired by Davy failed to drop the load at the right spot.

India’s interest is obviously in getting to know whom the consignment was meant for. Initiating the process, Danish authorities arrested Davy on Friday and while he was later released, his passport was seized and he was asked to report to the nearest police station every second day.

Another condition attached, of course, is that there would be no death penalty for Davy who was described by another accused, British national Peter Bleach, as the main architect of the entire exercise.

The Denmark government has also sought a reply from India on quantum of punishment for Davy. The main bone of contention between the two countries, however, was the Danish insistence that Davy serve his sentence, if found guilty, in Denmark.