In a major statewide crackdown on illegal arms trafficking, the Special Task Force (STF) of West Bengal Police recovered 10 firearms and 150 rounds of ammunition during coordinated raids across multiple districts on Wednesday. Six people were arrested in connection with the seizures.

According to police sources, the recovered cache includes eight 7mm pistols. The accused were produced before courts in their respective districts, while investigators launched a deeper probe into the source of the weapons and the possibility of a larger interstate arms smuggling racket.

A significant portion of the recovery was made in West Bardhaman’s Asansol, where two men were arrested with multiple firearms and ammunition.

The accused have been identified as Firoz Hasan alias Mohammad Firoz (58), a resident of Naimnagar B-Block in Durgapur, and Mohammad Sonu (25) from the Babutalao Road area under Asansol North Police Station limits.

Police said four firearms and 30 rounds of cartridges were recovered from their possession. Following their arrest, an Arms Act case was registered at Asansol South Police Station.

A local court later remanded both accused to seven days of police custody for interrogation. Investigators suspect the duo may have links to a wider illegal arms supply chain operating across district and state borders.

STF officials are now trying to trace the origin of the weapons and identify possible buyers and suppliers connected to the network.

In a separate operation in Purulia district, Jhalda Police arrested three alleged criminals with one firearm and four rounds of ammunition from the Gata Mor area along the Jhalda-Gola Road during an early morning raid.

The arrested individuals were identified as Rahul Tanti, Amit Toppo, and Nayan Bauri, all residents of Bokaro district in neighbouring Jharkhand.

Police claimed the trio was also linked to multiple theft cases in the region. Investigators further alleged that the accused admitted during questioning that they had gathered to carry out a robbery.

Purulia Superintendent of Police Vaibhav Tiwari said the recovered firearm had been seized and investigators were now trying to determine whether the accused were involved in other criminal activities in the past.

The three accused were later produced before a Purulia court, which remanded them to three days of police custody.

Police officials said the back-to-back recoveries indicate an active movement of illegal firearms across Bengal and adjoining states.

STF and district police units are expected to intensify surveillance and raids in the coming days as the investigation expands.