Kolkata police bust illegal arms racket, one arrested
Times of India | 10 November 2024
A total of 3 single-shot firearms, two 7 mm semi-automatic pistols, 50 rounds of 8MM live cartridges and 40 rounds of 7.65mm live cartridges were seized KOLKATA: When the Kolkata Police Special Task Force (KP STF) raided various spots across Bihar over the past two years, busting illegal arms factories, as many as 13 major raids were carried out in association with Bihar STF. These operations were always based on inputs that some operatives linked to this trade were trying to expand their business to south Bengal, including Kolkata.
The raid at the heart of Kolkata at Baithakhana by STF on Saturday night, barely 500 metres from the ever-busy Sealdah station, led to the seizure of arms and a large cache of ammunition. This is now proof that Munger arms dealers might have found willing buyers and distributors for themselves in the city. Md Israil Khan, alias Ismail Khan (53), the man arrested from Rajabazar, claimed he was using the festival season to ferry arms from Munger to Kolkata.
The first alarm was raised when weapons used in crimes in this city, including an attempted robbery at Southern Avenue, were traced to an illegal arms factory operating in Bihar’s Bhagalpur. The investigations show Ismail to be deeply involved in the illegal arms trade. Originally a resident of Hunterganj in Jharkhand’s Chatra, the accused Ismail was earlier convicted in 2014 in an armed dacoity case that took place in Sinthee in north Kolkata. He spent a few years in jail for allegedly being involved in crimes. Locals said the accused Ismail used to travel frequently and always dressed in blue and white. “We are ascertaining if he brought the large cache of arms from Munger with the purpose to sell them or use them for his own gang,” said an investigating officer.
“A total of three single-shot firearms, two 7 mm semi-automatic pistols, 50 rounds of 8 mm live cartridges, and 40 rounds of 7.65 mm live cartridges were seized from the possession of Ismail. A specific case is being registered at STF PS police station, and we have taken the accused in police remand,” said Additional CP Solomon V Nesakumar.
Back at Sealdah, locals are still in shock. “We have often seen this man in the area. He was always nattily dressed and accompanied by people we have never seen in this area,” said Jayanta Kundu, a local trader. STF stated that some south Bengal conduits are also on the radar. "The gang must have had more local contacts who acted as middlemen, and we are tracking them down," said an STF source.
Top Bihar cops who attended a coordination meeting in Kolkata earlier this year claimed that it was a misnomer that illegal arms get supplied only from Munger. “It happens from other places too. However, we have prepared a list of makers, carriers, and buyers and are regularly raiding them using all our resources. The information is being constantly exchanged,” an ADG level officer stated.