Times of India reports …

NEW DELHI: Maoists may have been dependent on weapons looted from armouries but now they have developed the expertise to clone sophisticated weapons, including assault rifles of AK series, in a development that should worry security agencies as they brace for the offensive against the ultras.

…

The CRPF also seized as many as 59 different types of instruments, which were used to manufacture and assemble these rifles and various types of pistols. An official said, “Around 100 personnel of the CRPF’s 190th Battalion conducted the operation and arrested one Maoist. Though the rest of the ultras fled away, they left behind the instruments used in making not only duplicate AK series rifles but also pistols of different makes.”

While you can laugh at the AK being called “sophisticated”, the fact is that is a capable, albeit simple, modern weapon that can hold its own on the battlefield. That is can be easily built in a cave means it is not going to disappear from the battlefield for a very long time.

[ Many thanks to Mehul for emailing me the link. ]