Special Task Force operation across South and North 24 Parganas has led to the recovery of 29 illegal firearms and ammunition, marking one of the most significant arms seizures in the region in recent months and reigniting a political debate over the legacy of violence in West Bengal.
The operation began after the arrest of Lutfar Molla, Khokon Molla and Ramzan Ali Molla, three men alleged to be close associates of suspended Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan. Investigators said information gathered during interrogation led STF teams to concealed weapons hidden in the Kumrokhali area of South 24 Parganas.
What followed was an extensive search across multiple locations near Sarberia Bazar in Kumrokhali, Basanti and Sandeshkhali. STF personnel eventually recovered a submerged bag containing rifles and ammunition from a local waterbody, underscoring the lengths to which those behind the cache had allegedly gone to avoid detection.
The arrests have once again drawn attention to Sheikh Shahjahan, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in 2024 in connection with allegations of land grabbing and the sexual exploitation of women. He is currently lodged in Kolkata’s Presidency Jail.
A Wider Security Concern
Investigators believe the latest recovery may represent only a fraction of a larger network of illegally stored weapons operating across parts of southern Bengal. The discovery comes amid heightened scrutiny of criminal activity in the region, particularly in districts that have witnessed repeated allegations of political intimidation and violence.
The seizure also follows another arms recovery in North 24 Parganas, where police recently unearthed three double-barrel guns and several cartridges allegedly buried on land owned by a local Trinamool Congress leader. Taken together, the discoveries have intensified concerns over the scale and persistence of illegal weapon stockpiles in the state.
Political Battle Over Law and Order
The operation quickly acquired political significance. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari described the recovery as a major breakthrough and credited the Special Task Force, the Director General of Police, the Basirhat Police District and West Bengal Police personnel for the success of the operation.
Adhikari used the occasion to launch a sharp attack on the previous Trinamool Congress administration. He alleged that illegal weapons had been amassed over several years and deployed to terrorise ordinary citizens and suppress political opposition. He further claimed that the resulting culture of violence had claimed the lives of numerous opposition workers, particularly BJP activists.
The Chief Minister asserted that his government would continue to track down illegal firearms across the state and pledged to eradicate what he described as criminal activity and political terrorism from West Bengal.
Developments Amid Broader Investigations
The arms recovery comes at a politically sensitive moment. Only a day earlier, the National Investigation Agency arrested former Trinamool Congress MLA Saokat Molla in connection with the Bhangar blast case. The March 19 explosion at Dakshin Bamunia village in South 24 Parganas left one person dead and three others critically injured. Investigators have alleged that crude bombs were being manufactured at the site when the blast occurred.
Against that backdrop, the latest STF operation carries significance beyond the seizure itself. It highlights the continuing challenge facing law enforcement agencies as they seek to dismantle illegal arms networks and address long-standing allegations of politically linked violence in some of West Bengal’s most contentious districts.
