3 hrs ago
Jalpaiguri Raid Seizes Firearms, Bangladeshi Documents; Community Head Arrested
Officials searched a residence in Jalpaiguri where many transgender people live.
The search lasted about 10 hours on Thursday.
Police and other agencies said they found guns, bullets, Bangladeshi SIM cards, a Bangladeshi birth certificate and Bangladeshi money.
They arrested Pipasa Haldar, who was described as the head of the residence.
Authorities are investigating where the recovered items came from.
They also questioned about 40 residents and recorded their biometric details.
Investigators are checking for possible links to Bangladesh-based or international illegal networks.
Pipasa denied having any connection with the firearms, money or SIM cards.
In a separate case, police in Cooch Behar arrested a man over an alleged brown-sugar seizure.
A 10-hour joint operation by the Border Security Force, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence and Jalpaiguri police targeted a transgender residence in Uttar Raikatpara on Thursday.
Authorities reported recovering two country-made firearms, three live rounds, two empty magazines, Bangladeshi SIM cards, a Bangladeshi birth registration certificate and Bangladeshi currency.
Pipasa Haldar, also known as Pipasa “Hijra,” was arrested and identified by authorities as the residence’s head.
About 40 transgender residents were questioned, and investigators collected biometric details while examining possible Bangladesh-based or international criminal links.
Separately, Cooch Behar police arrested Abhiram Barman and allegedly seized about 13 grams of brown sugar from him in Maghpala.
- Who
- The Border Security Force, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence and Jalpaiguri police conducted the raid; Pipasa Haldar was arrested. Cooch Behar police separately arrested Abhiram Barman.
- What
- Authorities reported seizing firearms, ammunition, Bangladeshi documents, SIM cards and currency at the Jalpaiguri residence; a separate case involved an alleged brown-sugar seizure.
- Where
- The main raid occurred at a residence in Uttar Raikatpara, Jalpaiguri. The separate narcotics arrest occurred in Maghpala, on the outskirts of Cooch Behar.
- When
- Both operations took place on Thursday; the Jalpaiguri search lasted about 10 hours.
- Why
- The Jalpaiguri operation followed confidential or specific intelligence inputs, including information about Bangladeshi women visiting the residence. Investigators are examining the source of the recovered items and possible cross-border links.
Investigators’ Position
Pipasa Haldar’s Position
Connection to seized items
Investigators’ Position
Investigators arrested and questioned Pipasa Haldar to determine the source of the firearms, ammunition, Bangladeshi SIM cards, birth certificate and currency reportedly recovered from the residence.
Pipasa Haldar’s Position
Pipasa Haldar denied having any connection with the firearms, money or SIM cards and said the search did not show her any recovered firearms.
Foreign or international links
Investigators’ Position
Authorities are examining whether residents had links with Bangladesh-based or international networks involved in illegal activities; one report said Pipasa was accused of sheltering foreign transgender people contacted abroad.
Pipasa Haldar’s Position
No confirmed connection to such a network was reported, and Pipasa denied the allegations.
Key facts
- Main location
- A transgender residence in Uttar Raikatpara, Jalpaiguri, near Boro Pukur and Baikunthapur Rajbari
- Operation duration
- About 10 hours on Thursday
- Agencies involved
- Border Security Force, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence and Jalpaiguri district police
- Items reported seized
- Two country-made firearms, three live rounds, two empty magazines, Bangladeshi SIM cards, a Bangladeshi birth registration certificate and Bangladeshi currency
- Arrest in Jalpaiguri
- Pipasa Haldar, also known as Pipasa “Hijra”
- Residents questioned
- About 40 transgender people; biometric details were collected
- Separate Cooch Behar case
- About 13 grams of brown sugar were allegedly seized from Abhiram Barman in Maghpala
Quotes
Pipasa Haldar
Arrested head of the transgender community in Jalpaiguri
“Based on information from confidential sources, BSF and police conducted a joint operation today. Pipasa Haldar alias Pipasa Hijra, a resident of Wakarganj Uttar Raykatpara in Jalpaiguri's Ward number 2, has been arrested. Two country-made guns, three live cartridges, two empty magazines, and a birth certificate issued by the Bangladesh government have been recovered from her. We have registered a case under the relevant sections and started an investigation.”
thehansindia.com
“They brought me to the police station. They searched our house and found nothing. They didn't find any firearms. They told us that they had information from above. They wanted to see our house. I showed them the house. If they had searched and found anything, they would have shown it to us. They are government employees, law enforcement officers. The law will take its course.”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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