Significant Arms Cache Discovered in West Bengal Pond

Discovery of Firearms in Habra

Kolkata, June 15: Authorities in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district reported the recovery of a substantial number of firearms and ammunition from a pond in Habra. This discovery occurred when fishermen inadvertently pulled up two bags containing weapons while casting their nets, according to police statements made on Monday.

During a thorough search of the pond, law enforcement officials retrieved eight firearms along with 97 rounds of ammunition. An investigation has been initiated to ascertain who concealed these weapons in the water and for what purpose.

Police sources indicated that the pond belongs to Subrata Biswas, a local farmer from the Purbashapalli region of Kashipur in Habra. Biswas manages two ponds and several bighas of farmland. The startling find was made while fishermen were engaged in harvesting fish from one of his ponds.

Initially, the fishermen discovered a black bag while casting their nets. Upon opening it, they found four firearms and 72 rounds of cartridges. They promptly informed the Habra Police Station, leading to a swift response from officers who secured the area.

Following the initial recovery, police conducted a second round of netting, resulting in the retrieval of another black bag containing four additional firearms and 25 rounds of cartridges. This brought the total number of firearms seized to eight and the total rounds of ammunition to 97.

The news of this significant recovery quickly spread throughout the village, attracting a large crowd of local residents to the site. To ensure public safety, additional personnel from the Habra Police Station were dispatched, and central forces were also positioned in the vicinity as a precaution.

Barasat Superintendent of Police J. Mercy confirmed, "Upon receiving information from villagers regarding the weapons, police arrived at the scene. A total of eight country-made pistols were recovered from two bags, along with 97 rounds of cartridges. An investigation is currently underway to determine who placed the firearms there."

Taramani Biswas, the wife of pond owner Subrata Biswas, shared with local media, "We cultivate fish in the pond. Today, we sent fishermen to catch fish, and later we learned that bags filled with firearms were found. Numerous bullets were discovered. The pond is adjacent to a secluded road, and we cannot identify who discarded the weapons there."

This incident follows a similar arms recovery in Sandeshkhali on June 6, where the Special Task Force (STF) of West Bengal Police uncovered a large cache of firearms and cartridges from a pond linked to Trinamool Congress leader Robin Das. Following that recovery, both Das and his brother Gopal Das reportedly fled the area.