CBI Seizes Major Cache Of Arms In West Bengal's Sandeshkhali: What We Know So Far

In a significant development, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has uncovered a cache of arms, including foreign-made pistols and ammunition, during its ongoing search operations in various locations across West Bengal's Sandeshkhali.

According to a statement from the central agency, the CBI seized a variety of weapons, including three foreign-made revolvers, one foreign-made pistol, one Indian revolver, one Colt official issue police revolver, one country-made pistol, and a substantial quantity of ammunition.

The recovered ammunition also includes 120 nine mm bullets, 50 cartridges of .45 calibre, 50 cartridges of .380, and eight cartridges of .32.

These raids are directly linked to an attack on an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team, which was instigated by the local Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan.

The search operation, which commenced on Friday (26 April) morning, saw the CBI team meticulously combing through various locations, including digging soil inside a house, as part of their ongoing investigation.

Also, a team of the National Security Guard commandos has been deployed in the area.

This development comes in the aftermath of a directive issued by the Calcutta High Court, instructing the CBI to investigate allegations of land grabbing and sexual assault in the Sandeshkhali region.

Prompted by the court's intervention, the CBI registered three FIRs on 5 January, addressing a range of offenses, including illegal land acquisitions and instances of violence and sexual assault against women.

In response to the findings, Suvendu Adhikari, leader of the Opposition , expressed alarm, stating, "All the weapons found in Sandeshkhali are foreign... I demand to declare Trinamool Congress as a terrorist organization."

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