The Kolkata Police have arrested a taxi driver and recovered a large cache of illegal firearms and live ammunition from his vehicle in Bengal’s Howrah district.
According to police sources, a Special Task Force (STF) team of the Kolkata Police intercepted a white-and-blue taxi, having registration number WB23C8793, near the Abhaynagar playground, which comes under the jurisdiction of Nishchinda Police Station in the Howrah Police Commissionerate.
The STF conducted a thorough search of the vehicle taking the help of local cops from the Nishchinda Police Station.
The operation took place at around 8.05 pm on Tuesday, police said.
According to police sources, four improvised 7 mm pistols, one country-made single-shot pistol, four magazines, six rounds of 9 mm live ammunition, 19 rounds of 7.65 mm live ammunition, and four rounds of 7.62 mm live ammunition were recovered.
The driver, identified as Rajesh Kanwar (54), son of Ramnagina Kanwar and a resident of BT Road at Baranagar, was taken into taken.
An investigation has been launched to ascertain the source of the weapons and ammunition, and where they were being transported. It is also being investigated whether the accused has links to any organised illegal arms trafficking network.
Police have registered a case under the relevant provisions of the Arms Act.