Kolkata, May 20 (IANS) The Special Task Force (STF) of West Bengal Police has recovered 10 firearms and 150 bullets from different parts of the state and arrested five persons in connection with the seizures, police said on Wednesday.

An investigation is underway to ascertain how the accused procured the firearms. Police said such operations to recover illegal weapons would continue.

In Asansol of West Burdwan district, two persons were arrested in possession of several firearms and bullets. A court has remanded both accused to seven days’ police custody in a case registered under the Arms Act at Asansol South Police Station.

According to police, the arrested accused have been identified as Firoz Hasan alias Mohammad Firoz (58) and Mohammad Sonu (25).

Firoz is a resident of Naimnagar B-Block in Durgapur, while Sonu is a resident of the Babutalao Road area under Asansol North Police Station limits.

Police claimed that a total of four firearms were recovered from the two accused.

Along with the firearms, 30 rounds of cartridges were also seized. The recovery of such a huge quantity of weapons and bullets created a sensation in the area.

A case was registered under multiple sections of the Arms Act at Asansol South Police Station on Wednesday. Police are now trying to ascertain the source of the weapons and whether a larger arms trafficking racket is involved.

Investigating officers said more crucial information could emerge during the interrogation of the accused in police custody.

Meanwhile, in Purulia district, officers of Jhalda Police Station arrested three alleged miscreants with a firearm and four rounds of bullets. They were apprehended from the Gata More area on Jhalda-Gola Road on Wednesday morning.

The arrested persons have been identified as Rahul Tanti, Amit Toppo and Nayan Bauri. All three are residents of Bokaro district in Jharkhand.

When they were produced before a court in Purulia, the judge remanded them to three days’ police custody.

Police also claimed that the accused were involved in several theft cases. According to investigators, the accused admitted during interrogation that they had gathered to commit robbery.

District Superintendent of Police Vaibhav Tiwari said: “The firearms recovered from the arrested persons have been confiscated. Efforts are being made to ascertain whether the accused were involved in any previous crimes.”

–IANS

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