Murshidabad arms bust: 2 held with 5 pistols, 35 cartridges in Bengal
Synopsis
A late-night joint operation in Murshidabad has unravelled what police describe as an active arms supply chain — five pistols and 35 cartridges seized, two suppliers arrested, and investigators now chasing the network's kingpins. With a by-election looming and a Bangladesh smuggling angle both in play, this bust points to a corridor that has been quietly arming two states and a neighbour.
Key Takeaways
Two accused — Khalek Sheikh and Suraj Mandal of Malda district — arrested in Murshidabad late Tuesday night, 12 August .
Seizure included five 7 mm pistols , 10 empty magazines , and 35 cartridges .
Berhampore District Court granted seven-day police custody on Wednesday.
Police suspect weapons were destined for the upcoming Rejinagar Assembly by-election or for smuggling into Bangladesh .
District police sources say cheap arms from Munger, Bihar regularly enter via the Farakka , Umarpur , and Shamsherganj corridors.
Two alleged arms suppliers were arrested in Murshidabad district, West Bengal, during a joint operation by the Special Operation Group (SOG) of Murshidabad District Police and officers of Jiaganj Police Station late on Tuesday night, 12 August. The accused were caught in the act of transferring weapons, police confirmed on Wednesday.
What Was Seized
Investigators recovered five 7 mm pistols, 10 empty magazines, and 35 cartridges of 7 mm bore diameter from the two men. The arrested individuals have been identified as Khalek Sheikh and Suraj Mandal, both residents of the Baishnabnagar area of neighbouring Malda district.
What the Police Said
Superintendent of Murshidabad Police District Sachin Makkar confirmed the two operated as weapon suppliers. 'They were caught in the police net late on Tuesday night when they tried to change hands on the weapons. Efforts are being made to arrest the main leaders of the arms smuggling ring by taking the arrested into custody. An investigation is underway to find out who was given the firearms in Murshidabad. We are investigating the matter thoroughly,' Makkar said.
The accused were produced before the Berhampore District Court on Wednesday, which granted seven-day police custody to facilitate further investigation.
The Route They Allegedly Took
According to the accused's statements to police, the duo entered Murshidabad via Dhulian Ferry Ghat, then boarded a train at Nimtita towards Azimganj before crossing the Ganges again. The circuitous route suggests a deliberate attempt to evade detection.
Wider Context: Election Link and Bangladesh Angle
The seizure carries added political weight: the Rejinagar Assembly by-election is scheduled in Murshidabad in the coming months, and a section of police suspects the weapons may have been intended for that constituency. Other sources, however, claim the firearms were being stored in Jiaganj for onward smuggling into Bangladesh.
Notably, this is not an isolated incident. According to district police sources, cheap firearms have been entering Murshidabad from Munger in Bihar on multiple occasions, routed through the Farakka, Umarpur, and Shamsherganj corridors. These weapons reportedly spread across Murshidabad and Nadia districts, with some crossing the international border into Bangladesh.
What Happens Next
With Khalek Sheikh and Suraj Mandal in seven-day police custody, investigators are working to identify and apprehend the kingpins of the alleged smuggling network. The Murshidabad Police have indicated they will trace the full chain of weapon distribution within the district.
Point of View
Then fanning out into Bengal and across the border. What makes this arrest sharper is the dual motive theory: a by-election in Rejinagar and a Bangladesh pipeline are not mutually exclusive, and both suggest demand-side pressure that a two-supplier arrest alone will not resolve. The seven-day custody window is the real test — if investigators cannot flip these suppliers into leads on the network's leadership, the corridor will simply route around this disruption.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested in the Murshidabad arms seizure?
Khalek Sheikh and Suraj Mandal , both residents of the Baishnabnagar area of Malda district, were arrested. Police identified them as suppliers in an arms smuggling network.
What weapons were recovered in the Murshidabad operation?
Police recovered five 7 mm pistols, 10 empty magazines, and 35 cartridges of 7 mm bore diameter from the two accused during the joint operation on Tuesday night.
Is the Murshidabad arms bust linked to the Rejinagar by-election?
A section of police suspect the weapons were intended for the Rejinagar Assembly constituency, where a by-election is due in a couple of months. However, other sources claim the arms were being stored in Jiaganj for smuggling into Bangladesh — both angles are under investigation.
Where do these illegal firearms reportedly come from?
According to district police sources, cheap firearms are entering Murshidabad from Munger in Bihar through the Farakka, Umarpur, and Shamsherganj corridors. The weapons then spread across Murshidabad and Nadia districts, with some reportedly crossing into Bangladesh.
What is the current status of the case?
The Berhampore District Court granted seven-day police custody of the two accused on Wednesday. Police are working to identify and arrest the main leaders of the alleged arms smuggling ring and trace the distribution of weapons within Murshidabad.
