Malda, 22 March (H.S.): Six persons were arrested after a firearm was recovered from a car allegedly belonging to a former MLA during a naka checking operation in West Bengal’s Malda district, the police said on Sunday.

The incident took place on Saturday night near a naka point at Chechumore in Old Malda along National Highway 12, where the police had set up a checking point and were intercepting vehicles.

During the drive, a car associated with former Manikchak MLA and district Congress vice-president Mottakin Alam was stopped. Six youths travelling in the vehicle were on their way to Pandua, the police said.

On searching the vehicle, the police claimed to have recovered a pistol. As the occupants failed to provide satisfactory details regarding the weapon, all six were taken into custody.

The incident triggered political reactions in the district amid the ongoing election atmosphere. Local Trinamool Congress leaders criticised the Congress and demanded a thorough probe, with TMC leader Bibhutibhushan Ghosh alleging possible “ulterior motives” behind the incident.

However, Congress leaders denied any wrongdoing, claiming that the recovered firearm was a licensed weapon belonging to the former MLA. They said it was inadvertently left in the vehicle due to his preoccupation on Eid, and that his relatives were using the car at the time of the incident.

Police said an investigation is underway and all aspects of the case are being examined.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey