HOWRAH: A targeted operation by the Golabari Police in Pilkhana on Sunday led to the arrest of a youth identified as Sheikh Irfan and the recovery of an illegal firearm, police sources reported.
Raid followed a specific tip-off, Arms Act invoked
Acting on a specific tip-off about a cache of hidden weapons, a team from Golabari Police cordoned off and searched Irfan’s residence in Pilkhana. During a thorough search, officers seized an illegal firearm and took the young man into custody. He has been booked under the relevant sections of the Arms Act, the police statement said.
Investigators are examining all possible angles of the case, including the prospects of a link to a wider criminal network or active militant modules, the statement added. The arrest has drawn attention from intelligence agencies and local residents, police said.
“If the police identify the antisocial elements and raid their camps, they will find a lot of illegal weapons stored there.”
The remark, made earlier by Minister of State Umesh Rai expressing concern about miscreants hiding in Pilkhana, has gained renewed relevance following the recent raids and arrests in the area.
Area under scrutiny after previous arrests
Pilkhana has been under intensified scrutiny since the arrest of Hamim Mondal, who is alleged to have links with the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and was detained after a rented flat on Pilkhana Road — reportedly operating under the guise of a vest-manufacturing unit — was found to be a hideout, according to earlier reports. The recent seizure and arrest have heightened alarm among security agencies and residents, officials said.
- Police action: Golabari Police conducted a cordon-and-search operation in Pilkhana on a tip-off.
- Seizure: An illegal firearm was recovered from the premises searched.
- Arrest and charges: Youth identified as Sheikh Irfan taken into custody and booked under the Arms Act.
Local residents described a sense of unease following the latest operation in Pilkhana, a densely populated enclave in Howrah where mixed residential and small-scale industrial activities coexist. The area has attracted heightened attention from law-enforcement agencies amid concerns of concealed arms caches and clandestine operations.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Police unit | Golabari Police Station |
| Location | Pilkhana (Pilkhana Road) |
| Accused | Sheikh Irfan |
| Seized item | Illegal firearm |
| Legal provision | Booked under sections of the Arms Act |
Investigations and local impact
Police sources said enquiries are ongoing and that investigative teams are probing possible supply routes and connections that could explain the seizure. Officials are also said to be comparing notes with intelligence agencies following the earlier arrest of the man alleged to have been linked with JeM, though police have not commented on any direct connection in the present case.
Community leaders in Howrah stressed the need for sustained policing and intelligence co‑ordination. Traders and residents called for reassurance from civil and police authorities, noting that episodes involving illegal arms contribute to anxiety in an otherwise busy urban locality that is also home to small workshops and family households.
For now, the police have confined public comment to confirmation of the arrest and seizure and to assurances that the probe will pursue all leads. Further details, including whether more individuals will be detained or whether additional weapons will be recovered, are expected to be disclosed as the investigation progresses.
As the case develops, authorities in Howrah and Kolkata will monitor potential security implications for the twin-city region, where civic life and the informal economy rely on calm and routine that such incidents can disrupt.
