Why Was a Woman Arrested with Firearms in Bengal's Murshidabad?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Five semi-automatic 7 mm pistols were recovered from the woman.
- She was arrested at a bus stand in Umarpur.
- The police had prior intelligence about her activities.
- The case has been registered under the Arms Act.
- Investigations are ongoing to determine her affiliations.
Kolkata, Oct 20 (NationPress) The police have apprehended a woman for possessing firearms in the Raghunathganj region of Murshidabad district in West Bengal, as per official reports.
On Sunday, authorities discovered five semi-automatic 7 mm pistols along with 24 rounds of ammunition concealed in her bag.
The arrest occurred at the bus stand in Umarpur, which is en route to Farakka.
The detained individual has been named as Sadhana Halder, whose residence is in Krishnapur village, under the jurisdiction of Lalgola police station.
Police sources indicate that Sadhana intended to retrieve the weapons from the vicinity of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) in Farakka and transport them to the Sagarpara area within Murshidabad.
The Raghunathganj Police Station had been alerted and was actively monitoring the situation following credible intelligence.
Upon receiving word of her vehicle switch in Umarpur, police surrounded her.
Sadhana was taken into custody after the firearms were seized from her.
"Acting on a tip-off, we were tracking this woman. Today, she was set to execute an arms smuggling operation. She exited one vehicle and was about to enter another when our officers intercepted her. The pistols and cartridges were retrieved from her shoulder bag. She has been arrested, and a case has been initiated under the pertinent sections of the Arms Act. We are currently investigating the matter," commented a senior officer from the Jangipur police.
With the upcoming 2026 Assembly elections, reports of arms smuggling are reportedly on the rise in various regions of the state.
The police have hailed the recovery of the five firearms as a significant achievement.
Investigations are underway to determine if Sadhana is affiliated with any arms smuggling syndicate.
Authorities plan to gather more information following her interrogation.
The police confirmed that the arrested woman will be presented before the Jangipur court on Monday.
Currently, the police are examining the possibility of any accomplices.