Kolkata Police STF seizes 5 pistols, 90 bullets near Surendranath College; 1 suspect detained

The Kolkata Police Special Task Force (STF) conducted a significant raid on Saturday in Baithakkhana Bazaar, seizing five pistols and 90 bullets from a suspect near Surendranath College. Acting on a tip-off, STF officers traced the suspect, identified as Mohammad Ismail, to a tea stall located in a narrow lane of the busy Baithakkhana area. The operation led to Ismail’s detention and the confiscation of a bag containing the firearms and ammunition.

Police sources reported that the seized arms and ammunition were recovered following a thorough search at the tea stall, where Ismail was found in possession of the weapons. This seizure marks one of several recent STF operations in Kolkata focused on intercepting illegal firearms. The weapons were reportedly packed together in Ismail’s bag, which was recovered as evidence, and the firearms have been sent for forensic analysis to determine their origin and possible prior use.

Authorities have indicated that the seized firearms may have originated from Munger in Bihar, a known hub for illegal arms manufacturing. Munger-made firearms have historically been linked to illicit arms trafficking across India, and Kolkata Police are examining whether these weapons were intended for local distribution in Kolkata. The STF is investigating Ismail’s background and connections, looking into potential arms trafficking routes extending from Bihar to West Bengal.

Eyewitnesses present at the time of the raid observed STF officers surrounding the tea stall. A local shopkeeper recounted, “There was a crowd in front of the godown, and then I heard the police caught someone with guns. The man had a bag, but I had never seen him here before.”