Kolkata Police STF busts illegal firearms factory at Ghola in North 24-Parganas

Kolkata: The Special Task Force (STF) of Kolkata Police has busted an illegal firearms factory from Ghola area of North 24-Parganas and seized more than 90 firearms.

The arms factory had been operating from a house in the area. Three persons, including the owner of the house, were held by the investigating agency for interrogation. The police had specific information that an illegal firearm manufacturing racket was operating from the house.

A team of senior police officers raided the house on Wednesday morning and found the illegal factory in a ground floor room, which was used for stocking garments.

The owner of the house Kalachand Pal used to run a garment shop in the ground floor. A few months ago, he rented the floor to one Pappu Khan, who is suspected to be one of the main accused.

The ground floor room had remained locked for some time. The police officers broke open the door and found some lathe machines inside the room. Various utensils related to the manufacturing of illegal firearms were also seized from the room.

Khan has been absconding since the incident took place. Police are interrogating three persons, including the owner of the house. Raids are being conducted to nab the culprit.

Police are trying to know if some other persons were involved in the incident.

Police came to know the existence of the firearms factory after interrogating the accused, who were earlier arrested from Jagaddal in the same district in the last month.

In the earlier incident, the STF had seized 60 semi-finished improvised firearms from an illegal arms factory in Jagaddal. Six persons were arrested with the semi-finished guns.

Fake Indian currency notes (FICN) were also seized from Kolkata's Maidan area during a raid last month.

It may also be mentioned here that an illegal arms factory was busted from Ashokenagar area in North 24-Parganas by the district police and two persons were arrested for their alleged involvement in the racket in January this year.