Purulia arms drop: Bleach offers to testify in India

Yorkshire-based arms dealer Peter Bleach, who spent eight years in a Kolkata jail after being convicted of weapon smuggling, has offered to return to India and depose against the main suspect in the case, Kim Davy.

Bleach has made the offer following reports that the Indian government has agreed to the conditions laid down by Denmark for Davy's extradition, including that he would spend a possible jail sentence in a Denmark jail.

It was on the night of Dec 17, 1995, that sophisticated arms and ammunition were dropped over Purulia from an AN-26 aircraft. Davy was identified as the prime suspect but had managed to flee India five days later from the Mumbai airport.

Davy was declared a proclaimed offender and a Red-Corner Notice was issued against him by Interpol. In February 2002, the Central Bureau of Investigation located him in Denmark and sent their extradition request to Denmark in October 2002.

In April 2005, the Danish authorities laid down terms for his extradition:

- He will be repatriated to Denmark for his period of imprisonment, if any.

- He will be tried by a regular court and only for the Purulia armsdrop case.

- Death Penalty will not be imposed.

- The Danish embassy and consulate will have unrestricted access to him.

- He will be given an expeditious trial and be treated in accordance with provisions of the UN convention for civil and political rights.

According to reports, the Indian government has now agreed to the conditions and the ministry of external affairs is expected to shortly convey this to Denmark.

Six other accused in the Purulia arms-drop case, five Latvian nationals and Peter Bleach, were granted remission of their sentence by the Indian president in 2000 and 2004 respectively and were subsequently released.

Bleach, 56, lives in Wykeham near Scarborough in north England. He was pardoned in 2004 following a campaign for his release after a local newspaper, the Yorkshire Post, obtained confidential documents that proved that Bleach had tipped off the British government about the airdrop.

Bleach had also been reportedly interviewed about it beforehand by special branch officers at the Scarborough police station. According to Bleach, Davy was the frontman for the arms buyers.

Bleach believes that his testimony in the case would be vital. He told the Yorkshire Post: "Even though I did eight years in the slammer for this, if I were called as a witness I would go back and gladly give evidence.

"As far as I know if they are going to put Kim Davy on trial they are going to need witnesses and I am the only one. All I know is that Kim Davy was the one who wanted the arms."

(IANS)

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