Staffer of arms dealer siphons cartridges to shootout gangs
Times of India | 16 February 2025
12 Kolkata: In a significant breakthrough, the West Bengal Special Task Force (STF) has arrested four individuals, including an employee of a prominent Kolkata arms dealer, in connection with illegal arms trafficking across the state. The operation also led to the recovery of 190 factory-produced 7.65mm calibre live cartridges and nine 12-bore cartridges, along with a double-barrelled gun manufactured by the Indian Ordnance Factory (IOF).
"The primary source of illegal pistols and cartridges used in various shootouts in the state in the recent past was uncovered by the Bengal STF's investigation. Among the four illegal arms dealers arrested, one Jayanta Dutta is an employee of a well-known arms and ammunition store in the heart of Dalhousie. Dutta was siphoning 7.65 bore cartridges to known criminals for more than two years. We have summoned other staffers of the store and we intend to question even the owner," said a top cop of Bengal STF.
Calls to the owner of the shop were disconnected on Saturday.
According to STF officials, this operation exposed a significant supply chain of ammunition from licensed firearms shops in Kolkata to criminal networks, and they believe that the presence of UP and Bihar-based criminals in central Kolkata in recent weeks might also be linked with this chain. The involvement of Dutta, an employee of a leading licensed arms dealer in Kolkata, has raised serious concerns about the security protocols in place for ammunition sales.
The main operation, conducted in collaboration with Jibantala Police across South 24 Parganas in the past couple of days, led to the arrest of four and recovery of 190 factory-produced 7.65mm calibre live cartridges and nine 12-bore cartridges, along with a double-barrelled gun. Sources said at least four instances of shootouts by criminals in south Bengal were linked to these criminals.
The arrests were carried out from multiple locations in the Jibantala Police Station areas and Minakha Police Station areas. The accused have been identified as Ashik Iqbal Gazi (also known as Bappa Gazi) from Hasnabad, Haji Rasid Molla (71) from Jibantala, Abdul Selim Gaji alias Bablu (45) from Hasnabad, besides Jayanta who hails from Sutraghar in Santipur, Nadia. All four were produced before the court with a request for police remand.
The authorities are now investigating the possibility of more employees from licensed arms dealers being involved in similar illegal activities.
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