304 gelatin sticks seized in Birbhum, Bengal; one arrested in third blast-material haul
Synopsis
Three major explosives seizures in Birbhum within two months — and a Pakistani national with alleged ISI links arrested this week — paint a picture of West Bengal emerging as a critical node for cross-border terror logistics. The 304 gelatin sticks recovered from a village home in Rampurhat are the latest data point in what investigators are beginning to treat as a connected threat network, not isolated incidents.
Key Takeaways
304 gelatin sticks were seized from a private residence in Rampurhat, Birbhum on 14 August 2025 .
Homeowner Shariful Islam was arrested and remanded to police custody by a Birbhum district court.
This is the third major explosives recovery from Birbhum district in under two months.
Earlier seizures include 12,400 gelatin sticks, 800 kg ammonium nitrate and 105 detonators recovered on 29 July , and an NIA haul on 25 July in Naihati.
West Bengal Police have also arrested individuals linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) , the Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN) , and Pakistan's ISI in recent weeks.
Investigators have not ruled out an insurgency angle behind the Rampurhat stockpile.
West Bengal Police recovered 304 gelatin sticks from a private residence in Rampurhat, Birbhum district, on Friday, 14 August 2025, following a tip-off-led raid — marking the third major explosives seizure from Birbhum in under two months. The owner of the house, Shariful Islam, was arrested and subsequently remanded to police custody by a district court in Birbhum.
How the Raid Unfolded
Acting on a source tip-off, a team from the Rampurhat Police Station raided a private residence in the Bathan Para area of Ayas village in Rampurhat. A thorough search of the premises yielded 304 gelatin sticks — a commercial explosive typically used in mining and quarrying operations.
Shariful Islam, the homeowner, was first questioned on the premises before being formally arrested. He was produced before a district court in Birbhum, which ordered him into police custody. Investigating officers are currently questioning Islam about the source of the gelatin sticks and the purpose for which they were stockpiled at his residence.
Investigators Probe Insurgency Angle
Police have not ruled out the possibility that the stockpile was intended for use in insurgency or criminal activities within the district or elsewhere in the state, according to officials. The scale of the recovery — combined with the pattern of recent seizures — has prompted investigators to look beyond routine quarry-related explanations.
Notably, Birbhum's Nalhati Block is a well-known stone-quarry hub, and gelatin sticks are legally used in such operations. However, the volume and storage location of this latest haul have raised red flags for law enforcement.
A Pattern of Explosive Recoveries in Birbhum
This is the third significant explosives find from Birbhum district in roughly two months, pointing to a deepening security concern in the region.
On 25 July, sleuths of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) recovered a large cache including 20 bags of ammonium nitrate and multiple detonators during a raid in Naihati in the same district, leading to one arrest.
Four days later, on 29 July, Birbhum district police recovered 800 kilograms of ammonium nitrate, 12,400 gelatin sticks, 105 detonators, and 36 detonating fuse coils from a house in Lakhnamara village, Nalhati Block — a haul of considerable scale even by national standards.
Wider Security Context: JeM Links and ISI Connections
The recoveries come against a backdrop of heightened security activity in West Bengal. The Intelligence wing of West Bengal Police recently stepped up surveillance following the arrest of suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) associate Hamim Mondal and his close associates Arpita Sarkar and Aditya Singh alias Raj.
Investigators subsequently established that both Mondal and Sarkar reportedly had links not only to JeM but also to the Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN), a Pakistan-based terrorist-criminal organisation, according to reports.
Earlier this week, the Special Task Force (STF) of West Bengal Police arrested a Pakistani national, Wahab Alam, who allegedly has links to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), along with his local associate Mohammad Izaz. The arrests have further intensified scrutiny of cross-border networks operating in the state.
What Comes Next
Shariful Islam remains in police custody as investigators work to map the supply chain behind the gelatin sticks. The cumulative pattern of three explosives seizures in Birbhum within two months, alongside arrests linked to JeM, SBN, and ISI-connected individuals, is expected to draw central security agencies deeper into the investigation in the days ahead.
Point of View
And investigators should be treating it as one. Birbhum's quarry belt provides plausible cover for stockpiling commercial explosives, but the concurrent arrests of individuals linked to JeM, SBN, and ISI suggest that cover may be actively exploited. What is missing from the public record is a clear account of whether these seizures are connected cases or independent incidents — a distinction that determines whether West Bengal is dealing with a local supply-chain problem or a coordinated pre-positioning of materials. Central agencies entering the picture is the right call; the question is whether inter-agency coordination is fast enough given the tempo of discoveries.
NationPress
14 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was recovered in the Rampurhat explosives seizure?
Police recovered 304 gelatin sticks from a private residence in the Bathan Para area of Ayas village in Rampurhat, Birbhum district, on 14 August 2025. The homeowner, Shariful Islam, was arrested and remanded to police custody by a local court.
Is this the first such explosives recovery from Birbhum?
No — this is the third major explosives seizure from Birbhum district in under two months. Earlier recoveries include an NIA haul of ammonium nitrate and detonators in Naihati on 25 July, and a massive find of 12,400 gelatin sticks, 800 kg ammonium nitrate, 105 detonators, and 36 detonating fuse coils in Lakhnamara village on 29 July.
Are the Birbhum explosives seizures linked to terror groups?
Investigators have not yet established a confirmed link between Shariful Islam and any terror network. However, the recoveries coincide with West Bengal Police arresting individuals connected to Jaish-e-Mohammed, the Shahzad Bhatti Network, and Pakistan's ISI in recent weeks, prompting authorities to probe whether the stockpile was intended for insurgency activities.
Who is Wahab Alam and why was he arrested?
Wahab Alam is a Pakistani national arrested this week by the Special Task Force of West Bengal Police. He allegedly has links to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). His local associate, Mohammad Izaz, was also arrested in the same operation.
What is the Shahzad Bhatti Network?
The Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN) is described by investigators as a Pakistan-based terrorist-criminal organisation. Suspected JeM associate Hamim Mondal and his associate Arpita Sarkar were found to have links to SBN in addition to Jaish-e-Mohammed, according to reports.
