Bengal CID arrests woman with 6 illegal firearms, 200 rounds in Ashoknagar
Synopsis
A woman intercepted on a road in Ashoknagar was found carrying six pistols, 200 rounds of ammunition, and a train ticket to Bihar — pointing investigators toward a suspected Munger-based arms pipeline feeding West Bengal's underworld. The arrest signals a rare operational breakthrough in a smuggling route that law enforcement has tracked for years.
Key Takeaways
Puja Biswas , a resident of Habra Municipality ward 12 , was arrested by West Bengal CID on 19 July in Ashoknagar, North 24 Parganas .
Seized items include six firearms (four 7 mm and two 9 mm pistols), 12 magazines , 200 rounds of ammunition , ₹12,000 cash, and two mobile phones .
A train ticket for Jamalpur, Bihar found on her strengthens suspicion of links to an arms racket based in Munger, Bihar .
Investigators believe the firearms were being transported from Bihar to West Bengal for sale in the local underworld market.
Biswas was produced before a district court ; the public prosecutor sought police custody for further interrogation.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the West Bengal Police on Sunday, 19 July arrested a woman carrying a cache of illegal firearms and ammunition at Ashoknagar in North 24 Parganas district. The accused, identified as Puja Biswas, a resident of ward number 12 under Habra Municipality, was intercepted during a joint operation on Naihati Ashoknagar Road.
Weapons and Evidence Recovered
Investigators seized six firearms — comprising four 7 mm and two 9 mm pistols — along with 12 magazines and 200 rounds of ammunition. Additionally, cash worth ₹12,000 and two mobile phones were recovered from Biswas. A train ticket for Jamalpur in Bihar was also found in her possession, deepening suspicions about her alleged links to arms networks operating out of Munger, Bihar.
How the Arrest Unfolded
Acting on a tip-off, a joint team of CID officers and personnel from Ashoknagar Police Station intercepted a vehicle in which Biswas was travelling, at intersection number 8 on Naihati Ashoknagar Road. When investigators frisked her bag, the entire cache was discovered. Initial findings indicate that Biswas had entered West Bengal by train from Bihar, alighting at Naihati before being detained en route to Habra.
Suspected Arms Smuggling Network
According to a state police officer, CID investigators suspect Biswas was a member of a larger arms smuggling racket, reportedly based in Munger — a district in Bihar long associated with illegal firearms manufacturing and trade. Officers are currently interrogating her to identify prospective buyers and associates within the network. 'The sleuths are interrogating her to know about the prospective buyers for the arms and ammunition consignments that she was carrying along with her,' the officer said.
Legal Proceedings
Biswas was produced before a district court later on the day of her arrest. The public prosecutor sought her police custody to enable deeper investigation into the alleged racket and its distribution chain within West Bengal's local underworld market.
The case underscores a recurring law-enforcement concern: the Bihar-to-Bengal arms pipeline, which investigators say has been exploited by criminal networks to supply illegal weapons to buyers in the state. Further arrests are likely as the CID pursues leads from Biswas's interrogation.
Point of View
And the recurring pattern of mules travelling by train with concealed weapons suggests an organised supply chain rather than isolated incidents. The recovery of a Jamalpur ticket is a specific, actionable lead — but whether the CID can roll up the network beyond a single courier will test the depth of its inter-state intelligence sharing. West Bengal's proximity to porous borders and an active underworld demand for illegal firearms makes this corridor a persistent security challenge that individual arrests alone will not resolve.
NationPress
19 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested in the Ashoknagar arms seizure?
Puja Biswas , a resident of ward number 12 under Habra Municipality in North 24 Parganas, was arrested by the West Bengal CID on 19 July in Ashoknagar. She was intercepted while travelling in a vehicle on Naihati Ashoknagar Road.
What weapons were recovered from Puja Biswas?
Investigators recovered six illegal firearms — four 7 mm and two 9 mm pistols — along with 12 magazines, 200 rounds of ammunition, ₹12,000 in cash, and two mobile phones from her bag.
What is the suspected link to Munger in Bihar?
A train ticket for Jamalpur in Bihar was found on Biswas, and initial investigation indicates she had entered West Bengal by train from Bihar. CID officers suspect she was part of an arms smuggling racket based in Munger, a district known for illegal firearms manufacturing.
What legal action has been taken against the accused?
Biswas was produced before a district court on the day of her arrest. The public prosecutor sought police custody to allow CID investigators to interrogate her about her associates and the intended buyers of the weapons.
Why is the Bihar-to-Bengal arms route significant?
Munger in Bihar has long been associated with illegal small-arms production. Investigators believe firearms are being transported from Bihar to West Bengal for sale in the local underworld market, making this corridor a recurring law-enforcement concern.
