Police in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal uncovered a massive weapons cache inside a high-rise apartment complex on Monday, raising serious concerns about a potential organized criminal or terror network operating in the region.
Acting on a tip-off, officers from the Barrackpore Police Commissionerate raided Pratibha Manzil, a posh residential tower located in the Regent Park area of Khardah, North 24 Parganas district. The operation led to the seizure of 15 firearms and approximately 1,000 rounds of live ammunition, authorities confirmed. The sudden presence of a large police contingent caused panic in the neighborhood, typically known for its quiet residential character. Investigators say they are now probing why such a large cache of weapons was being stored in a civilian housing unit. “This is not something you expect to find in a modern apartment complex,” a senior police official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “We are investigating whether this is part of a larger conspiracy.”
In addition to the firearms and ammunition, police also seized several lakh rupees’ worth of materials, including cash and other items believed to be of investigative interest. A man identified as Liton Chakraborty has been taken into custody and is currently being interrogated.
Police sources say Chakraborty’s questioning is key to unraveling the motive behind the stockpile, and whether it is linked to criminal syndicates, extremist groups, or other clandestine operations. The discovery has sparked security concerns in the region and is likely to prompt increased surveillance and searches in similar housing units in the coming days.
