Arms cache in West Bengal fish pond: 8 pistols, 97 rounds seized in Habra
Synopsis
Fishermen in Habra, West Bengal, went to harvest fish and instead pulled up eight country-made pistols and 97 rounds of ammunition hidden in two black bags at the bottom of a pond. It is the second such pond weapons recovery in North 24 Parganas in under two weeks — a pattern that investigators are now scrambling to explain.
Key Takeaways
Eight country-made pistols and 97 rounds of ammunition were recovered from a pond in Habra, North 24 Parganas , on 15 June .
The weapons were found in two separate black bags during a routine fish harvest by hired fishermen.
The pond belongs to farmer Subrata Biswas of Purbashapalli, Kashipur; his wife said the family had no knowledge of the weapons.
Mercy confirmed the seizure and said an investigation is underway to identify who concealed the firearms.
The discovery follows a similar STF recovery from a pond in Sandeshkhali on 6 June , reportedly linked to TMC leader Robin Das , who allegedly fled after that seizure.
Central forces were deployed at the Habra site as a precautionary measure amid large crowds.
Eight country-made pistols and 97 rounds of ammunition were recovered from a pond in Habra, North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal, on Monday, 15 June, after fishermen accidentally netted two black bags while harvesting fish. Police have launched an investigation to identify who concealed the weapons in the water body and for what purpose.
How the Discovery Unfolded
The pond belongs to Subrata Biswas, a farmer from the Purbashapalli area of Kashipur in Habra. On Monday morning, fishermen hired to harvest fish from the pond cast their nets and pulled up a black bag. Inside were four firearms and 72 cartridges. The matter was immediately reported to Habra Police Station, and officers cordoned off the area.
A thorough search of the pond followed. During the second round of netting, another black bag was retrieved — this one containing four more firearms and 25 cartridges. The combined haul stood at eight pistols and 97 rounds.
What Officials Said
Barasat Superintendent of Police J. Mercy confirmed the recovery, stating: 'The police reached the spot after receiving information from the villagers about the weapons. After searching, a total of eight country-made pistols were recovered in two bags. Along with them, 97 rounds of cartridges were also recovered. An investigation is underway to find out who kept the firearms there.'
Taramani Biswas, wife of pond owner Subrata Biswas, told local media: 'We grow fish in the pond. Today, we sent fishermen to the pond to catch fish. Later, we received news that bags full of firearms were recovered from the pond. Many bullets were found. The pond is next to an isolated road. We cannot say who dumped the weapons in the pond.'
Law and Order Response
News of the seizure spread rapidly through the village, drawing large crowds to the site. Additional personnel from Habra Police Station were deployed to maintain order, and central forces were also stationed in the area as a precautionary measure.
Pattern of Pond Recoveries in West Bengal
This is the second such incident in the state within a fortnight. On 6 June, the Special Task Force (STF) of West Bengal Police recovered a large cache of firearms and cartridges from a pond in the Manipur area of Sandeshkhali. That pond was reportedly linked to Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and former regional president Robin Das, who, along with his brother Gopal Das, allegedly fled the area following the recovery. The back-to-back discoveries have drawn attention to the concealment of weapons in rural water bodies across North 24 Parganas.
Investigators are yet to establish ownership or intent in the Habra case. The probe is ongoing.
Point of View
And the recurring use of water bodies as weapons storage suggests an organised concealment network, not opportunistic dumping. The Sandeshkhali recovery's alleged link to a TMC functionary adds a political dimension that investigators cannot afford to sidestep. What is missing from both cases so far is any credible account of how long the weapons had been submerged, who placed them there, and whether the two caches are connected. Those answers will matter far more than the pistol count.
NationPress
31 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where exactly were the arms recovered in West Bengal on 15 June?
The arms were recovered from a fish pond in the Purbashapalli area of Kashipur in Habra, North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal. The pond belongs to farmer Subrata Biswas, who was not present at the time of the discovery.
How many weapons and rounds were seized from the Habra pond?
A total of eight country-made pistols and 97 rounds of ammunition were seized, found across two black bags recovered during successive rounds of netting in the pond.
Who discovered the weapons and how?
Hired fishermen discovered the weapons accidentally while casting nets to harvest fish. The first bag surfaced during the initial netting; the second was found during a subsequent police-supervised search of the pond.
Is this the first such arms recovery from a pond in West Bengal recently?
No. On 6 June, the West Bengal Police STF recovered a similar cache from a pond in Sandeshkhali, also in North 24 Parganas. That pond was reportedly linked to TMC leader Robin Das, who allegedly fled the area after the seizure.
What action has the police taken so far?
Habra Police Station officers cordoned off the site, additional personnel were deployed to manage crowds, and central forces were stationed as a precaution. Barasat SP J. Mercy confirmed an investigation is underway to identify who concealed the weapons and why.
