West Bengal STF Unearths Massive Illegal Firearms Cache from Sandeshkhali Pond

In a major crackdown, the Special Task Force recovered a hidden stockpile of weapons linked to associates of former TMC strongman Sheikh Shahjahan, triggering a fresh political firestorm in the state.

The West Bengal STF has launched an intensive operation in the North 24 Parganas district after recovering a substantial cache of illegal firearms and ammunition submerged in a pond. The raid, which centered on the Manipur village of Sandeshkhali, targeted properties belonging to Robin Das, a former regional president of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), and his brother, Gopal Das. Both individuals, who are reportedly close associates of the incarcerated former party strongman Sheikh Shahjahan, absconded just before investigators arrived.

A Calculated Strike on Hidden Networks

Acting on precise intelligence, the Special Task Force (STF), supported by local police and central security forces, conducted a series of coordinated raids across the region, including locations near Sarberia Bazaar, Kumrakhali, and Basanti. In the Manipur village operation, investigators were led to a waterbody adjacent to the residence of the Das brothers. Divers and forensic teams recovered bags containing 29 firearms and numerous cartridges, confirming suspicions that the area was being used to stockpile weaponry intended to disrupt public order.

The recovery is part of a broader crackdown on networks previously shielded by local power structures. Following the interrogation of three aides of Sheikh Shahjahan—identified as Lutfar Molla, Khokon Molla, and Ramzan Ali Molla—authorities gained critical insights into how these illegal arms were distributed and concealed. Sheikh Shahjahan himself remains in Presidency Jail, having been arrested earlier in 2024 on charges involving land grabbing and the sexual exploitation of women in the region.

Political Fallout and Governance Concerns

The discovery has intensified the political climate in West Bengal, with the BJP seizing the opportunity to highlight the legacy of violence in the area. BJP MLA Sajal Ghosh criticized the previous administration, remarking that the pond, which should have been a source of sustenance, had instead become an arsenal. He warned that had the political landscape remained unchanged, these weapons would have likely been turned against ordinary citizens and opposition workers.

In response, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari lauded the police for their "major breakthrough," asserting that the "dark days" of state-sponsored intimidation are coming to an end. Adhikari emphasized that the government is committed to reclaiming the rule of law, promising that the systematic recovery of illegal arms will continue across the state until political terrorism is entirely eradicated. As the manhunt for the Das brothers continues, the presence of central forces remains a visible reminder of the state’s ongoing efforts to stabilize the volatile Sandeshkhali region.