Murshidabad arms haul: 7 firearms seized from Trinamool leader Papai Ghosh's home
Synopsis
West Bengal Police unearthed seven firearms and 186 rounds of ammunition from the home of a Trinamool Congress Youth Wing leader in Murshidabad — a confession-led raid that also triggered a second seizure the same day. The back-to-back hauls underscore the new BJP government's aggressive push to clear illegal weapons from India's sensitive border districts.
Key Takeaways
West Bengal Police recovered 7 firearms , 5 magazines , and 186 rounds from the residence of Papai Ghosh in Baharampur, Murshidabad on 22 August .
Ghosh, the Baharampur town president of the Trinamool Congress Youth Wing , was arrested on 14 August after surrendering to a district court.
He had prior criminal charges including a marauder charge from 2017 and had been absconding since the BJP came to power.
In a separate operation, Jabbar Mondal and Alamgir Sheikh were arrested by Saktipur Police Station with 3 firearms , 6 magazines , and 40 bullets .
The crackdown is part of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari 's drive to recover illegal arms in border districts including Murshidabad and Malda .
West Bengal Police on Saturday, 22 August recovered a large cache of illegal arms and ammunition from the residence of Papai Ghosh, the Baharampur town president of the Trinamool Congress Youth Wing, in Murshidabad district. The seizure followed Ghosh's confession during sustained police questioning after his arrest on 14 August.
What Was Recovered
Officers raiding Ghosh's residence found seven firearms, five magazines, and 186 rounds of ammunition. The firearms comprised two 9 mm pistols, three 7.65 mm pistols, and two single-shot pipe guns, according to police.
Background: Ghosh's Arrest and Prior Charges
Papai Ghosh had accumulated multiple criminal cases during the previous Trinamool Congress (TMC)-led state government, including a marauder charge filed in 2017. He had been absconding since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power following Trinamool Congress's landslide defeat in the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections. Ghosh surrendered before a district court in Murshidabad earlier this month, leading to his formal arrest on 14 August. During marathon police questioning, he disclosed the location of the arms cache at his residence, prompting the raid.
Second Seizure: Jabbar Mondal and Alamgir Sheikh Arrested
In a separate operation on the same day, officers from Saktipur Police Station — also under the Murshidabad Police — arrested two individuals identified as Jabbar Mondal and Alamgir Sheikh. Police recovered three firearms, six magazines, and 40 rounds of bullets from their possession. Investigators are questioning both men to establish the purpose of the consignment and identify the intended recipients.
Broader Crackdown in Sensitive Border Districts
The twin seizures are part of a sustained drive by the BJP government in West Bengal, led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, to flush out illegal weapons from sensitive areas — particularly the India-Bangladesh border districts of Murshidabad, Malda, and adjoining regions. Authorities say these districts have historically been flagged as hotspots for arms smuggling, and the new administration has prioritised recovery operations since assuming office. This is among the most significant single-location seizures in the district in recent months.
Point of View
And a change of government alone does not dismantle those networks. The interrogation of Jabbar Mondal and Alamgir Sheikh — whose intended delivery target remains unknown — is the thread that investigators, and journalists, should pull hardest.
NationPress
22 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was seized from Papai Ghosh's residence in Murshidabad?
Police recovered seven firearms — two 9 mm pistols, three 7.65 mm pistols, and two single-shot pipe guns — along with five magazines and 186 rounds of ammunition from the Baharampur home of Trinamool Congress Youth Wing leader Papai Ghosh on 22 August.
Why was Papai Ghosh arrested?
Papai Ghosh, the Baharampur town president of the Trinamool Congress Youth Wing, had multiple criminal charges against him, including a marauder charge from 2017. He had been absconding after the BJP came to power in West Bengal and surrendered before a Murshidabad district court earlier in August, leading to his formal arrest on 14 August.
Who are Jabbar Mondal and Alamgir Sheikh?
Jabbar Mondal and Alamgir Sheikh are two individuals arrested by Saktipur Police Station in Murshidabad on 22 August. Police recovered three firearms, six magazines, and 40 rounds of bullets from them and are questioning both to determine the purpose of the consignment and its intended recipients.
Why is Murshidabad a focus of West Bengal's arms crackdown?
Murshidabad is an India-Bangladesh border district that authorities have long flagged as sensitive for arms smuggling. The BJP government under Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has made recovery of illegal weapons in such border districts — including Malda — a stated priority since assuming office.
What happens next in the Papai Ghosh case?
Ghosh remains in police custody and faces charges linked to the recovered arms cache in addition to his prior criminal cases. Investigators are also pursuing leads from the separate arrest of Jabbar Mondal and Alamgir Sheikh to map the wider supply chain behind the weapons.
