Ranit Kr. Singh , Kolkata — The West Bengal Police Special Task Force (STF), alongside central paramilitary forces, launched extensive raids across several areas of Sandeshkhali on Saturday, recovering a massive cache of illegal weapons and ammunition. Acting on precise intelligence inputs, a joint operation by the STF and Basirhat District Police targeted multiple locations including Sarberiya, Akunjipara, Basanti, and Kumrokhali to unearth hidden arms networks. The coordinated search led investigators straight to hidden deras and residences belonging to close associates of arrested political strongman Sheikh Shahjahan. 

During the intensive morning operation, forces recovered more than 18 illegal firearms, including 17 weapons seized near Sarberia Bazar, alongside 35 rounds of bullets pulled directly from a pond. Six individuals identified as close associates of Sheikh Shahjahan have been arrested from different locations so far, while authorities have launched a massive manhunt for two local musclemen who managed to flee before the forces arrived. Security teams heavily searched the properties of regional political figures, including the residence of Manipur Gram Panchayat chief Prosenjit Gangopadhyay. 

Simultaneously, investigators targeted the homes of Trinamool leaders Rabin and Gopal Das in Manipur, where investigators discovered the bulk of the weaponry wrapped in sheets and concealed inside a local pond. The notorious 'Das Brothers,' long accused by local residents of using political power to run rampant and terrorize the neighborhood, have officially gone missing following the discovery.

Following the successful operation, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari praised the state forces on his X handle on Saturday morning, confirming that the Special Task Force successfully seized a substantial cache of illegal firearms and ammunition hidden away to disrupt peace. "For years under the previous regime, such illegal weapons were stockpiled and used ruthlessly to terrorize common citizens," the Chief Minister stated, adding that criminal activities and political terrorism will be completely wiped out from the state.