Ahead of the upcoming elections in West Bengal, the police and administration have intensified security measures across the state. In a major breakthrough on Tuesday, the ARS (Anti-Rowdy Section) team of Lalbazar intercepted an arms smuggler on a passenger bus in Kolkata. The operation led to the arrest of Mohammad Ishtiaq, a resident of Gaya, Bihar, and the seizure of a significant cache of illegal firearms.

Lethal Weaponry Seized from Bus: Acting on a tip-off, the police tracked the bus traveling from Gariahat towards the EM Bypass. As soon as Ishtiaq deboarded at Kasba, the police team nabbed him. A search of his belongings revealed a 7 MM pistol, three one-shutter guns, and 11 rounds of live cartridges. In total, six firearms were recovered from the accused.

Investigating the Poll Connection: Initial investigations suggest that the weapons were being smuggled into Kolkata from Bihar and Jharkhand. Investigators are now probing the motive behind this shipment. Was the weaponry intended for stockpiling ahead of the elections? Who was the intended recipient in Kolkata? The police are interrogating Mohammad Ishtiaq to dismantle the entire smuggling network and uncover any potential plans for pre-poll unrest.