Kolkata, 13 August (H.S.): Two alleged arms dealers have been arrested in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district shortly after the arrest of Pakistani national Rana Rauf alias Wahab Alam, with police suspecting that the duo was attempting to smuggle firearms across the barbed-wire fence into Bangladesh.

The arrests have prompted investigators to intensify their probe into the alleged arms trafficking network and identify other people who may be involved in the operation.

The arrests come amid heightened security across West Bengal over suspected extremist activities ahead of Independence Day. Security has particularly been tightened along the Bangladesh border following the arrest of Rauf, who is suspected by investigators of having links with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

The State Police Special Task Force (STF) had recently arrested Hamim Mondal from East Burdwan on suspicion of having links with the ISI. The subsequent arrest of Rauf has further heightened security concerns along the international border, with police increasing patrolling and surveillance in border areas.

According to police sources, illegal arms smuggling through the border is not a new phenomenon, and law enforcement agencies have been keeping a close watch on such activities. Acting on a tip-off, personnel of Bongaon police station raided a suspected hideout of arms dealers late Wednesday night and arrested Shahidul Mondal and Anup Khan.

The police recovered firearms and ammunition from the premises. Shahidul is a resident of the Bajitla area under Bongaon police station, while Anup resides in the Phultala Kalam area.

During the raid, police reportedly recovered a 9mm pistol and two magazines. Investigators are now questioning the accused to establish the source of the weapons and determine how the alleged trafficking network operated.

According to sources, preliminary questioning has indicated that Shahidul allegedly arranged for firearms to be brought into the area and stored them at secret locations, while Anup was allegedly responsible for moving the weapons onward. Police suspect that the firearms were subsequently supplied to criminal elements in Bangladesh and other locations.

Investigators have also learnt that Anup had allegedly sold firearms recently to a Bangladeshi criminal. Police are now examining the identity of the alleged buyer and the circumstances surrounding the transaction.

The two accused reportedly have previous criminal cases registered against them. Police have begun examining those cases as part of the wider investigation into the alleged arms-trafficking network.

Both accused were produced before the Bongaon Sub-Divisional Court on Thursday, where police sought their custody for further interrogation. Investigators are particularly focused on finding out whether other individuals are involved in the alleged arms trade and whether the network has links beyond the local area.

Meanwhile, investigators probing the case involving Pakistani national Rauf have also found links to Bangladesh. According to sources, Rauf had travelled to India from Kathmandu, Nepal, and had stayed in the country for several days. He had also visited Kolkata and was allegedly planning to travel to Bangladesh.

Investigators suspect that Rauf had made arrangements to cross into Bangladesh through the Petrapole border. However, before he could leave the country, he was arrested by the West Bengal STF from Habra in North 24 Parganas.

Following information allegedly obtained during the investigation, the STF subsequently arrested another person, Ejaz Ali, from Topsia in Kolkata in connection with the case.

The arrest of the two alleged arms dealers in Bongaon soon after the arrests of Rauf and Ejaz has now prompted investigators to examine whether the cases are connected and whether a larger network operating along the India-Bangladesh border is involved.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh