Police in West Bengal’s Malda district apprehended three individuals following the discovery of firearms and fake currency during pre-election raids. The raids, conducted in two different locations, led to the confiscation of weapons, ammunition, and counterfeit notes. Acting on a tip-off, the first raid took place in the Chanchal police station area, resulting in the arrest of Abdul Barek, who was found in possession of fake currency amounting to Rs 5 lakh. Barek disclosed that he had obtained the counterfeit money from Siliguri to circulate in Malda.
In a separate operation under the Chanchal police station, two alleged arms dealers, Golam Rabbani and Mizanur Rahman, were apprehended. The authorities seized four firearms and five rounds of ammunition from the duo, with initial investigations indicating that the weapons were sourced from Bihar. The police are pushing for custody of the suspects to delve deeper into the origins of the firearms and potential connections to a broader network. The accused were presented before a local court in connection with distinct cases.
Law enforcement has heightened surveillance in West Bengal, especially in regions bordering Bihar, Jharkhand, and Bangladesh, to curb the smuggling of illegal arms and counterfeit currency ahead of the Assembly elections. Previous operations have seen police making multiple arrests and seizures related to illegal arms and fake currency.
