Siliguri, 01st February: The Siliguri Unit of West Bengal Special Task Force (STF) arrested a miscreant involved in inter-state arms smuggling in Cooch Behar’s Sahebganj. The arrested accused has been identified as Bhola Mia (35), a resident of Dinhata in Cooch Behar district. Significantly, the STF also recovered two semi-automatic firearms, four magazines, and two rounds of ammunition.
Sources revealed that the STF team had received a tip-off that an individual would arrive in the said area with the arms and ammunition to deliver to a client for smuggling.
As per reports, on Wednesday evening, acting on the tip-off, the Siliguri unit of the Special Task Force launched an operation in an area near Uttar Banga Kshetriya Gramin Bank in Basantirhat under the jurisdiction of the Sahebganj Police Station of Cooch Behar.
During the operation, the STF team spotted an individual arriving from Dinhata’s direction, carrying a nylon bag. Acting swiftly, the team apprehended the miscreant. During the subsequent search, the arms and ammunition were recovered.
Upon interrogation, the arrested accused revealed that he had purchased the firearms and ammunition from Bihar and was in plans to deliver it to a client in Assam. Further, the accused confessed that he had smuggled several firearms to Assam and other parts of Bengal previously, and earned through the illegal arms trade. Adding to the statement during the interrogation, he claimed to be part of the inter-state racket involved in the smuggling of arms and ammunition.
Meanwhile, the STF had lodged a written complaint at the Sahebganj Police Station and a case was registered. On Thursday, the accused will be produced before the Ld. ACJM Dinhata and police remand would be sought.