West Bengal STF busts inter-state arms racket across 3 states, 4 kingpins held
Synopsis
West Bengal's STF ran its most prolonged single operation in recent memory — 17 days across three states — to crack an illegal arms network with roots in Munger, Bihar. Four alleged kingpins are in custody, ₹3.90 lakh in suspected proceeds seized, and investigators say the network's full extent is still being mapped.
Key Takeaways
West Bengal STF busted an inter-state arms trafficking network spanning West Bengal , Bihar , and Jharkhand after a 17-day operation ending 12 October 2026 .
Four alleged kingpins arrested: Md.
Farhan (25 Sep), Md.
Shahnawaz Alam alias Guddu (29 Sep), Pawan Kumar Singh (3 Oct), and Ganesh Rana (4 Oct).
Seizures include three pistols , multiple magazines, 24 live rounds , and ₹3.90 lakh in suspected illegal proceeds.
The operation, triggered by an arrest in Durgapur , expanded via financial trail analysis to Munger and Hazaribagh .
Investigation is ongoing; police say remaining associates are yet to be identified and the full network is not yet dismantled.
West Bengal's Special Task Force (STF) has dismantled a major inter-state illegal arms trafficking network spanning West Bengal, Bihar, and Jharkhand, following a 17-day sustained operation that concluded on 12 October 2026. The crackdown resulted in the arrest of four alleged kingpins and the seizure of firearms, ammunition, and cash suspected to be proceeds from illegal weapons sales, according to a statement issued by West Bengal Police.
How the Operation Unfolded
The operation was triggered on 25 September with the arrest of Md. Farhan alias Musan, a resident of Jamui, Bihar, from Durgapur in West Bengal. STF sleuths recovered two pistols, two magazines, and 20 live rounds of cartridges from his possession. Investigators then traced the supply chain — including financial trails — which led to a prolonged, multi-state follow-up operation lasting 17 days.
The sweep extended into Munger, Bihar, and Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, where further arrests were made and additional weapons were recovered. According to the police statement, the financial investigation was central to identifying the network's broader structure and its alleged kingpins.
The Four Accused and Key Seizures
West Bengal Police have named four individuals as the alleged masterminds behind the racket. The arrests were carried out in the following sequence:
Md. Farhan of Jamui, Bihar — arrested 25 September from Durgapur; Md. Shahnawaz Alam alias Guddu of Munger, Bihar — arrested 29 September; Pawan Kumar Singh of Jamui, Bihar — arrested 3 October; and Ganesh Rana of Hazaribagh, Jharkhand — arrested 4 October.
Seizures from the operation include two pistols and 20 rounds of ammunition recovered on 25 September, one 9 mm pistol with one magazine and four live rounds, and cash amounting to ₹3.90 lakh suspected to be proceeds from illegal arms sales.
Wider Crackdown Context
This operation is part of a broader, coordinated effort by both the West Bengal Police STF and the Kolkata Police STF to dismantle illegal arms smuggling rackets operating within the state. According to insiders, the 17-day operation is the most prolonged single crackdown the STF has undertaken in recent memory, underscoring the scale and complexity of the network.
Notably, Munger in Bihar has historically been associated with illegal arms manufacturing — a pattern that investigators appear to be tracking as part of the supply-chain probe in this case.
Investigation Status and Next Steps
West Bengal Police have confirmed that the investigation is ongoing. Authorities are working to identify remaining associates and fully dismantle the trafficking network. 'Further investigation is underway to identify remaining associates and dismantle the entire racket,' the official statement read. The case highlights persistent vulnerabilities at state borders where the movement of illegal weapons reportedly continues to challenge multi-state law enforcement coordination.
Point of View
And its reappearance at the heart of a network stretching into Jharkhand and West Bengal confirms that supply chains from this belt remain stubbornly intact despite periodic crackdowns. The 17-day operation is commendable in its persistence, but the real test is whether the financial trail — ₹3.90 lakh in suspected proceeds is a small number for an organised racket — leads investigators to the upstream manufacturers and distributors rather than just the couriers and middlemen. Multi-state arms trafficking demands a coordinated NIA or CBI-level response; STF-to-STF bilateral cooperation, while necessary, has historically been insufficient to break the manufacturing end of such networks.
NationPress
12 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What arms racket did West Bengal STF bust in October 2026?
West Bengal's Special Task Force dismantled an organised inter-state illegal arms trafficking network operating across West Bengal, Bihar, and Jharkhand following a 17-day operation. Four alleged kingpins were arrested and three pistols, ammunition, and ₹3.90 lakh in suspected proceeds were seized.
Who are the four accused arrested in the West Bengal arms racket?
The four arrested are Md. Farhan of Jamui, Bihar (25 September), Md. Shahnawaz Alam alias Guddu of Munger, Bihar (29 September), Pawan Kumar Singh of Jamui, Bihar (3 October), and Ganesh Rana of Hazaribagh, Jharkhand (4 October). All are believed to be kingpins of the racket, according to police.
How did the West Bengal STF track down the arms trafficking network?
The operation began with the arrest of Md. Farhan in Durgapur on 25 September and was expanded by tracing the supply chain and financial trails, leading investigators to Bihar and Jharkhand over 17 days. Key arrests were subsequently made in Munger, Bihar, and Hazaribagh, Jharkhand.
What was seized in the West Bengal inter-state arms operation?
Seizures included two pistols, two magazines and 20 live rounds on 25 September; one 9 mm pistol with one magazine and four live rounds recovered subsequently; and ₹3.90 lakh in cash suspected to be proceeds from illegal arms sales.
Is the investigation into the West Bengal arms racket complete?
No — West Bengal Police have stated that further investigation is underway to identify remaining associates and fully dismantle the network. The four arrested are alleged kingpins, but the full extent of the trafficking chain is yet to be established.
