Firearms, crude bombs seized

South 24 Parganas district police seized firearms and crude bombs from a house at Basanti's Titkumar village on Saturday night. Khalek Molla, the owner of the house, escaped after the incident. His assistants who helped him to make them also escaped from the village.

Police learnt that Molla was a firearms supplier in South 24 Parganas. But recently, he started making crude bombs in his house and supplied them to criminals.

Acting on a tip-off, the officers conducted raids to Molla's house on Saturday night. Molla and his assistants were then making the bombs when the officers reached the premises.

But the accused persons managed to flee the spot. "We have seized one pipe gun and some crude bombs from his house. Now, we have to find out his clients," said a police officer.

It may be mentioned that Birbhum and Murshidabad police have already stepped up their efforts to capture illegal arms and ammunition after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee recently gave a stern warning at the District Review Meeting to enhance vigilance and check bomb-manufacturing, particularly in sensitive areas. She had instructed the police to shut down all the arms and bomb-making units in the districts.