Police recover three firearms in single night operation in Siliguri; three arrested

Siliguri, 16th May: Siliguri Metropolitan Police carried out multiple operations across the city and recovered three firearms in a single night, leading to the arrest of three accused from different police station areas.

Following the Assembly elections, police have intensified action against illegal activities and criminal elements across Siliguri. The recovery of three firearms in one night has triggered concern, with police now probing possible links to a larger network.

According to police, a plainclothes team from Pradhan Nagar Police Station conducted a raid in the Darjeeling More area based on a tip-off and arrested Pranab Mandal (31). An automatic pistol and two live rounds of ammunition were recovered from his possession. He is reportedly a resident of the Samar Nagar Auto Stand area.

In another operation, Matigara Police arrested MD Sarip (28) from the Himachal Bihar area while he was allegedly moving under suspicious circumstances. A country-made pistol and a live ammunition were recovered from him. Police said the accused, a toto driver from Chopra in Uttar Dinajpur, had previously been arrested in a bike theft case.

Meanwhile, Bhakti Nagar Police detained Dipankar Roy (26), a resident of Ward No. 42 under Siliguri Municipal Corporation, from the NH-10 area late at night. One firearm and two live rounds of ammunition were recovered during the search operation.

Cases have been registered against all three accused under charges related to illegal possession of firearms. While Pradhan Nagar and Matigara Police produced the accused before the Siliguri court, Bhakti Nagar Police presented its accused before the Jalpaiguri court.

Police are currently conducting further investigation to determine whether the accused are linked to any larger criminal gang operating in the region.