The Bengal Special Task Force (STF) conducted a raid at Purba Beraberi under the jurisdiction of the Narayanpur police station close to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, Thursday night.

According to STF sources, four people were arrested during the operation: Linkon Hossain, 25, of Chinarpark; Bakibilla Gazi, 28, of Matia, North 24 Parganas; Faruk Sardar, 25, of Athghora, under Baguihati police station, North 24 Parganas; and Rajib Molla, 24, of Madhyamgram, North 24 Parganas.

According to the STF, incriminating articles had been recovered from their possession: One 7 mm semi-automatic pistol, two one-barrelled pipe guns, 12 rounds of 7.65 mm live ammunition, two rounds of 8 mm live ammunition and one grey-coloured XUV 500 vehicle.

A case has been registered at the Narayanpur Police Station under the Arms Act. The STF is also investigating the purpose of their movements. Further, it is being investigated where the arms were procured, to whom the arms were to be handed over, and what the reason for the arms supply was at this time, when tensions were running high between India and Pakistan.

According to STF sources, they are interrogating the arrested and searching for the weapons factory from where the weapons had been bought, and they are also investigating whether a larger gang is involved in the incident and whether there was a larger conspiracy.

On Friday morning, the West Bengal STF arrested two men associated with the banned terrorist group Jamatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) after raids carried out in Nalhati and Murarai in the Birbhum district. The arrested were Ajmol Hossain (28) and Saheb Ali Khan (28), residents of Nalhati and Murarai, respectively.

The arrests have come at a time when India and Pakistan are in a border standofffollowing the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people, including mostly tourists, were killed. India retaliated with Operation Sindoor, targeting nine terror camps in Pakistan and PoK after May 6 midnight.