Arms haul in South 24 Parganas: Two Trinamool leaders arrested in Basanti
Synopsis
A cascading chain of interrogations has cracked open what appears to be a sprawling illegal arms network in Basanti, South 24 Parganas — with 14 long-range firearms and 95 rounds seized and two TMC leaders arrested. The haul is directly linked to the ongoing NIA, CBI, and ED probes into former TMC strongman Sheikh Shahjahan and ex-MLA Saokat Molla.
Key Takeaways
Shaokat Gayen and Zafar Sheikh , two local Trinamool Congress leaders, were arrested in Basanti, South 24 Parganas on 20 June .
A joint Basanti police and West Bengal STF operation recovered 14 long-range firearms and 95 rounds of ammunition from a pond ghat at Gayen's property.
The discovery was triggered by the interrogation of Ramzan Sheikh , who had ties to former TMC MLA Saokat Molla (arrested by the NIA ) and ex-TMC strongman Sheikh Shahjahan (arrested by the CBI and ED ).
The arrests are the latest in a series of arms recoveries across Basanti over a matter of days, pointing to a wider alleged network.
Rezaul Gayen , son of the arrested Shaokat Gayen, is an elected TMC panchayat member from Kanthalberia gram panchayat .
Two local All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders were arrested in Basanti, South 24 Parganas, on Saturday, 20 June, after a joint operation by the Basanti police and the West Bengal Special Task Force (STF) unearthed a significant cache of firearms and ammunition. The operation recovered 14 long-range firearms and 95 rounds of ammunition concealed beneath the steps of a pond ghat at the residence of one of the accused.
Who Was Arrested
The two individuals taken into custody have been identified as Shaokat Gayen and Zafar Sheikh, both described as local Trinamool Congress figures in Basanti. According to local sources, Rezaul Gayen, son of Shaokat Gayen, was elected as a panchayat member from Basanti's Kanthalberia gram panchayat on a Trinamool Congress ticket and is reportedly close to local TMC leader Raja Gazi.
How the Arms Cache Came to Light
The discovery is part of a cascading series of recoveries that began after the arrest of Ramzan Sheikh from Charavidya village in Basanti. Ramzan is said to have had close ties with former Trinamool MLA Saokat Molla of the Canning Purba constituency — who was recently arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with a bomb blast case — as well as with former TMC strongman Sheikh Shahjahan, who was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
The STF had already recovered several firearms from Ramzan's residence before taking him into custody. As interrogation progressed, one arms cache after another in Basanti came to light, eventually leading investigators to the stash hidden at Shaokat Gayen's property.
The Broader Pattern in Basanti
This is not an isolated seizure. A few days prior, police had launched searches at locations linked to Sheikh Shahjahan, recovering a large number of firearms allegedly hidden in a pond. The current haul marks yet another in a string of weapons recoveries from the area over a short span of days, pointing to what investigators reportedly describe as a wider network of illegal arms storage in the region.
Notably, the arrests come amid ongoing multi-agency scrutiny of TMC-linked figures in South 24 Parganas, with the NIA, CBI, and ED all active in the district in connection with separate but overlapping cases.
What Happens Next
Both Shaokat Gayen and Zafar Sheikh have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the arms cache. Investigators are expected to continue interrogations, with further recoveries possible as the STF widens its probe across Basanti. The cases involving Saokat Molla and Sheikh Shahjahan remain active before the NIA, CBI, and ED respectively.
Point of View
CBI, ED, STF — also reflects how thoroughly the Centre has trained its investigative apparatus on TMC-linked figures in Bengal, a dynamic that carries its own political freight and deserves scrutiny for both its findings and its targeting.
NationPress
20 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were arrested in the Basanti arms haul in South 24 Parganas?
Two local Trinamool Congress leaders, Shaokat Gayen and Zafar Sheikh, were arrested on 20 June after a joint operation by the Basanti police and the West Bengal STF recovered 14 long-range firearms and 95 rounds of ammunition from Gayen's property.
How many weapons were recovered in the Basanti operation?
Investigators recovered 14 long-range firearms and 95 rounds of ammunition, concealed beneath the steps of a pond ghat at the residence of Shaokat Gayen in Basanti, South 24 Parganas.
How is this arms haul connected to Sheikh Shahjahan and Saokat Molla?
The chain of discoveries began with the arrest of Ramzan Sheikh, who reportedly had close ties with both former TMC strongman Sheikh Shahjahan — arrested by the CBI and ED — and former TMC MLA Saokat Molla, arrested by the NIA in a bomb blast case. Ramzan's interrogation led the STF directly to the cache at Shaokat Gayen's residence.
What is the political connection of those arrested?
Shaokat Gayen's son, Rezaul Gayen, is an elected Trinamool Congress panchayat member from Kanthalberia gram panchayat in Basanti. Rezaul is also reportedly close to local TMC leader Raja Gazi. Both Shaokat Gayen and Zafar Sheikh are described as local TMC figures.
Are further recoveries expected in Basanti?
Yes. Investigators are continuing interrogations and have indicated that the STF is widening its probe across Basanti. The pattern of cascading recoveries — each interrogation leading to a new cache — suggests further seizures are possible as the investigation progresses.
