7 arrested for smuggling coal, cache of arms, cash seized

Seven persons have been arrested in the eastern part of the city for their alleged involvement in smuggling coal, police said.
Mastermind Rajesh Jha (46), Lokesh Singh (35), Manish Joshi (44), Krishna Murari Kayel (44), Sayan Majumdar (29), Partha Chatterjee (41) and Subham Bhowmik (28) were arrested late last night by the Special Task Force of Kolkata Police, a senior officer of the force said.
"Acting on a tip-off, STF intercepted a vehicle last night when they were travelling along Bidhan Shishu Uddan Sarani. After a search, several illegal firearms, ammunition and Rs 33 lakh in cash were seized from them, the IPS officer said.

Suspected to be the main brain behind the coal mafia of Durgapur-Asansol belt, Rajesh Jha of Durgapur in Burdwan district was arrested and an improvised semi-automatic pistol fitted with magazine having two live cartridges, and a mobile phone were seized from him, the officer said.
"After grilling others and Lokesh Singh, a search operation was conducted at his flat at Baguihati," the officer said.
The seven arrested persons have been booked under section 120B (Punishment of criminal conspiracy) of IPC and relevant sections of the Arms Act. They have been remanded in police custody till December 9, he said.