Kolkata, 3 July (H.S.): An illegal firearms manufacturing unit was busted in West Bengal's Murshidabad district, leading to the recovery of a large cache of country-made weapons and counterfeit currency notes worth ₹40,000. The raid was conducted jointly by the Domkal Police and the Special Operations Group (SOG) based on specific intelligence inputs.
According to a statement issued by the district police on Thursday afternoon, the raid took place on Wednesday night at a residence in the Garaimari area under Domkal Police Station limits. The police seized a country-made rifle, four pipe guns (some of which were in various stages of assembly), one shotgun, 12 rounds of live ammunition, a spent cartridge, and multiple machines used in the manufacture of firearms.
The recovered equipment includes two hydraulic pipes, five regular metal pipes, a drill machine, a cutting machine, an air blower, two dies, and a large metal sheet. Authorities believe that illegal arms production had been underway at this location for an extended period.
One individual, identified as Siraj Mandal, was arrested from the site and produced before the court on Thursday. Police have launched a detailed investigation to determine whether Mandal is part of a larger network involved in arms smuggling or the circulation of counterfeit currency.
Officials are also probing the distribution chain for both the seized weapons and the fake currency to uncover other potential suspects and locations connected to the operation.
This incident comes on the heels of a similar seizure just days ago in the Paschim Kuchiamora area of Domkal. In that case, the police had apprehended a man named Arab Ali alias Badar and confiscated a long-range country-made rifle, two 12-bore guns, one sophisticated 7mm pistol, four live bullets, 20 rounds of 12-bore cartridges, and four 7mm rounds.
The recurring discoveries have raised concerns over the growing network of illegal arms manufacturing and counterfeit currency distribution in the region, prompting increased vigilance and ongoing intelligence operations by the local police.
Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh
