CBI unearths arms cache in Sandeshkhali, calls in NSG

Hours after the West Bengal Government approached the Supreme Court against a Calcutta High Court order directing the CBI to probe allegations of extortion, land grab, and sexual assault from Sandeshkhali against suspended Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan and his associates, the CBI moved into the island and unearthed a cache of foreign-made arms, ammunition and unidentified explosives from the house of a close relative of a Sheikh Shahjahan aide.

- SUPROTIM MUKHERJEE

This prompted the CBI to call in specialists from the elite National Security Guards (NSG). The NSG commandos moved into Sandeshkhali in full gear, sniffer dogs and deployed a remote-controlled robot to defuse suspected explosives. The Election Commission also demanded a report from the Superintendent of Police of Sandeshkhali.

CBI officials said seven revolvers, including three foreign-made ones, and a .45 Colt revolver used by the police, were recovered along with 350 cartridges and an unspecified number of bombs and explosives. CBI said documents linked to Sheikh Shahjahan were also recovered during the raid. All the items had been buried inside the floor of the house, the CBI said.

The 10-member team of CBI – which is also investigating the January 5 attack on an Enforcement Directorate team– was conducting a raid on hideouts linked to suspects in that case.