Trio Arrested in Malda, West Bengal for Firearms and Fake Currency
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Kolkata, March 4 (NationPress) In a significant operation, law enforcement in the Malda district of West Bengal has taken three individuals into custody following the discovery of illegal firearms and counterfeit currency ahead of the upcoming state Assembly elections, officials reported on Wednesday.
Raids were executed at two distinct locations within the district, resulting in the seizure of firearms, ammunition, and fake currency notes.
According to law enforcement sources, the first operation was initiated based on intelligence from a confidential informant, targeting the Chanchal police station area late Tuesday night.
A local individual, identified as Abdul Barek from Khanpara in Chanchal, was apprehended during this raid. Authorities found fake currency amounting to Rs 5 lakh in his possession.
Upon interrogation, Barek reportedly disclosed that he had transported the counterfeit currency from Siliguri in north Bengal to Malda for circulation, as per the officials.
The police are actively investigating to uncover additional participants in the counterfeit currency network.
In a second operation within another sector of the Chanchal police station jurisdiction, two suspected arms dealers, Golam Rabbani and Mizanur Rahman, were arrested.
Both individuals hail from the Harishchandrapur police station area.
Authorities recovered four firearms and five rounds of ammunition from their possession, with initial investigations suggesting that the weapons originated from Bihar, according to officials.
The police are pursuing custody of the detainees for further questioning to determine the origins of the firearms and any potential connections to larger networks.
All three suspects were presented before a local court on Wednesday in relation to two separate cases, as stated by the police.
Officials have heightened surveillance throughout the state, especially in districts adjacent to Bihar, Jharkhand, and Bangladesh, to curb the influx of illegal firearms and counterfeit currency in light of the Assembly elections.
Previously, law enforcement has recorded numerous arrests and seizures of illegal arms and counterfeit currency during similar operations.