In a major crackdown on illegal arms networks in West Bengal, the Special Task Force of the state police recovered a massive cache of weapons and ammunition hidden in ponds and marshy areas in the districts of North and South 24 Parganas. The searches were conducted on Saturday across multiple sensitive locations linked to TMC leaders on the basis of precise intelligence leads.
The operation targeted areas near Sarberia Bazaar in Kumrakhali, Basanti, and Sandeshkhali, where the weapons were allegedly stockpiled to disrupt peace and order in the region that has long been plagued by political violence and unrest. According to officials, the raids focused particularly on a pond adjacent to the residence of former Trinamool Congress regional president Robin Das in Sandeshkhali, with his brother Gopal Das also coming under scrutiny.
Both brothers, who are close associates of the suspended TMC strongman Sheikh Shahjahan Sheikh, who is currently lodged in Presidency Jail, fled the spot before the forces arrived. Police teams, accompanied by central paramilitary personnel and local officers from the Basirhat Police District, searched the residence and surrounding waterbodies, leading to the seizure of a large quantity of illegal firearms and cartridges.
Reports indicated the recovery of 29 weapons along with 39 rounds of ammunition from the pond, while separate but related actions in the Kumrokhali area following the arrest of three aides of Shahjahan Sheikh, Lutfar Molla, Khokon Molla, and Ramzan Ali Molla, resulted in the recovery of additional firearms.
Six persons have been arrested so far in connection with the case, while a manhunt continues for the Das brothers, who face prior allegations of intimidation and violence against locals and opposition workers. The recovery sparked commotion in the area, with residents gathering at the site as news spread, and search operations are still underway to unearth any further stockpiles.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari promptly hailed the operation as a significant breakthrough, extending his appreciation to Director General of Police Siddharth Nath Gupta, the STF team, and Basirhat Police District personnel for their prompt and coordinated efforts. In a post on X, the Chief Minister stated that the forces had seized the arms and ammunition that were “hidden away to disrupt peace”, and underscored the commitment of his government to rooting out every illegal firearm across the state.
Kudos to the West Bengal Police for a Major Breakthrough.
— Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) June 6, 2026
On precise intelligence inputs, the Special Task Force (STF) conducted extensive raids across multiple locations near Sarberia Bazaar in Kumrakhali, Basanti, and Sandeshkhali areas.
Forces have successfully seized a… pic.twitter.com/pPZhT4VwQd
He alleged that such weapons had for years been stockpiled and used ruthlessly to terrorise common citizens, claiming the lives of numerous opposition party workers, particularly BJP karyakartas, who had stood against the alleged tyranny. “Those dark days are over,” Adhikari declared, adding that peace, safety, and democracy would now prevail as criminal activities and political terrorism are completely wiped out.
Adhikari posted, “Those dark days are over. Our Government remains unconditionally committed to restoring Law and Order. We will continue to track down, unearth, and recover every single piece of illegal firearm across the length and breadth of West Bengal. Criminal activities and Political Terrorism will be completely wiped out from our State. Peace, safety and Democracy will prevail.”
BJP MLA Sajal Ghosh echoed the sentiment, criticising the TMC for turning ponds into hiding spots for guns and bullets instead of fish, and urging the administration to ensure the culprits remain behind bars.
The development comes against the backdrop of Sandeshkhali’s troubled history of land-related conflicts and law-and-order issues involving TMC leaders, and is a strong signal of the new administration’s resolve to restore normalcy in the region.
