A country-made firearm wrapped in a plastic packet was recovered from a pond in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district, triggering a police investigation into its origin and possible connection to criminal activity. The discovery has attracted attention because it comes only days after similar recoveries of firearms from ponds in other parts of the district, raising concerns about illegal weapons being deliberately dumped in water bodies.
According to police and local sources, the incident occurred in Gosaba, where a pond owner named Amjed Sardar had gone fishing with his daughter in a pond situated amid open fields in the Beltala area. What began as a routine fishing trip took an unexpected turn when the girl, while moving through the water, reportedly felt a hard object strike her foot.
Curious about the object, the father and daughter searched the area and retrieved a plastic-wrapped packet from the pond. Upon opening it, they discovered what appeared to be a firearm. Realising the seriousness of the situation, they immediately informed the police.
After receiving the information, police officers arrived at the location and took possession of the weapon. A preliminary examination revealed that the item was a small country-made revolver that had been carefully wrapped in plastic, apparently to protect it from water damage while submerged in the pond.
The recovery has become particularly significant because it follows recent incidents in Sandeshkhali and Basanti, where firearms were also reportedly recovered from ponds. The repeated discovery of weapons in water bodies across different parts of South 24 Parganas has led investigators to consider whether there may be a broader pattern behind the incidents.
Following the recovery in Gosaba, police launched search operations in several nearby ponds and water bodies to determine whether additional weapons or suspicious items had been hidden in the area. Officers conducted thorough inspections, but no other firearms or incriminating objects were found during the searches.
Investigators are now focusing on how the revolver ended up in the pond and who may have placed it there. One of the primary theories being examined is that the weapon may have been discarded by criminals attempting to avoid arrest, destroy evidence, or distance themselves from illegal activities.
Police believe that water bodies can sometimes be used as convenient locations for disposing of weapons because they are difficult to search and can conceal evidence for extended periods. The fact that the revolver was wrapped in plastic has further strengthened suspicions that it may have been intentionally hidden rather than accidentally lost.
Authorities have sent the recovered firearm for detailed forensic examination. Experts will attempt to determine whether the weapon is functional, whether it has been used in any criminal incidents, and whether any fingerprints, DNA traces, or other forensic evidence can be recovered despite its time underwater.
Investigators are also expected to check the weapon against records of unsolved crimes in the region. Ballistic analysis may reveal whether the revolver was previously used in any shootings or other offences, potentially helping police connect it to ongoing investigations.
The recovery has generated concern among local residents, particularly because of the recent discovery of similar weapons in other areas of the district. The repeated appearance of firearms in ponds has raised questions about whether criminal groups may be using water bodies to conceal illegal arms.
Police have not yet confirmed any direct link between the various recoveries, but officials are examining whether the incidents could be connected. Investigators are gathering information about criminal activity in the region and reviewing intelligence inputs to determine whether organised networks may be involved.
The incident has also highlighted the unusual ways in which ponds and other water bodies can become connected to criminal investigations. In many cases, such locations are used to dispose of evidence that suspects hope will remain hidden from law enforcement agencies.
Authorities have assured residents that the matter is being taken seriously and that all possible leads will be explored. The recovered revolver remains in police custody and is undergoing examination as part of the ongoing investigation.
With no additional weapons found during the initial searches, investigators are now relying on forensic analysis, intelligence gathering, and local inquiries to establish the firearm's origin and determine whether it has any connection to criminal activity in the district.
The investigation remains ongoing, and police are expected to continue monitoring the area while examining possible links between the Gosaba recovery and similar incidents reported elsewhere in South 24 Parganas. For now, the discovery has added another layer of mystery to a series of unusual firearm recoveries that have prompted growing concern among both residents and law enforcement authorities.
