'Weapons plane' detained in India

By Subir Bhaumik
BBC News, Calcutta

The plane had clearance but did not declare its explosive cargo

A United Arab Emirates transport plane has been detained at an Indian airport after customs officials found arms, ammunition and explosives in its cargo.

The plane, bound for Hanyang in China, landed in Calcutta for refuelling.

An Indian defence ministry spokesman said nine crew members had been detained and were being asked why they failed to declare the plane's cargo.

Indian authorities say they were intrigued that weapons were being flown to China, which normally exports arms.

"The plane had necessary clearance but it had nowhere mentioned that it was carrying a consignment of weapons," said Wing Commander Mahesh Upasani, spokesman of the ministry of defence in Calcutta.

The Indian air force has since cancelled the clearance it granted the plane because it had failed to properly declare its cargo.

The plane is being kept in a special bay at the airport.

Officials at Calcutta airport are sensitive about such undeclared cargo after a Russian plane dropped a huge consignment of weapons over West Bengal's Purulia district in December 1995, then landed at Calcutta before flying on to Thailand.

On its way back through India, the plane was forced to land at Mumbai and its crew were arrested along with a British arms dealer.