Dumka, Oct. 5: The two residents of Godda, who were arrested with fake notes at Banka in neighbouring Bihar on Friday, have reportedly revealed during interrogation that they have links with fake currency smugglers in Bangladesh and also with agents of Pakistan’s ISI.

They have also admitted before the Banka police that the racketeers were operating from Kash Chandpur under Kaliyachowk in Malda district of Bengal, which is very close to the international border of Bangladesh and also Sahebganj district of Jharkhand.

However, the Godda police are yet to initiate an inquiry into the matter on grounds that it was the responsibility of their Banka counterparts.

The arrested are Maksuid Ansari and Md Sulama, both residents of Gantafasia hamlet under Muffasil police station in Godda.

“The two have revealed that some ISI agents used to supply them fake notes. They used to come via Bangladesh and the exchange took place at Jharkhand’s Sahebganj and Pakur. Besides, they also said that the ISI has developed a network in the districts of Bihar, Jharkhand and Bengal to flood the markets there with fake notes,” a police officer from Banka said on condition of anonymity.

P. Kannan, the Banka superintendent of police, said that acting on a tip-off, Banka SDPO Sanjoy Kumar arrested the duo on Barahat-Panjwara road, adjacent to border of Godda. Fake notes of Rs 50,000 were found on them.

“They were coming to Barahat on a motorcycle from Godda to hand over the consignment of fake notes,” Kannan said. He, however, did not disclose the names of the persons they were going to meet.

He added that the Banka police, with the help of their Godda counterparts, conducted raids at the native places of the duo and recovered two illegal rifles, 12 cartridges, one stolen rifle and an air gun from their shops. “Both Ansari and Sulama have grocery stores at the village from where they ran the racket. We are trying to find out whether they used to smuggle firearms too,” Kannan said.

Meanwhile, the Muffasil police station at Godda have registered separate cases of arms recovery against the duo while Banka police have started investigation of the fake currency case. The two have been sent to judicial custody at Banka district jail.

A police officer from Banka, however, said that the Godda police were reluctant to probe the fake notes angle. Something, the Godda police did not argue against. “Since the spot of arrests is in Banka, it is the responsibility of them to complete the investigation. We only can assist the Banka police if they seek our cooperation,” said Godda superintendent Amarnath Khanna.

He added that a team of police from Godda was sent to Banka for conducting interrogation of the two.