Cops find secret tunnel linked to a canal in fake gold dealer Saddam's house

West Bengal police probing a case related to the purchase of fake gold idols have found a secret underground tunnel inside the house of the accused at Kultali in South 24 Parganas district, officials said.

While one end of the concrete tunnel opens in an underground room of the house of the accused Saddam Sardar, the other end is linked to a canal, which flows behind the house and is connected to River Matla in the Sunderbans beyond which lies the Indo-Bangla international border.

“Saddam and his brother Sairul are accused in multiple cases, and it is suspected that the tunnel was built in his house to serve as an escape route if police raid his house,” said an officer of Baruipur police district.

“He used to lure prospective buyers saying that he had gold bars and idols which he wanted to sell off at cheaper rates. He would show them fake gold items. Once the buyers came, Saddam would take them to an isolated place and would assault the person and snatch all his belongings,” said the officer.

On Monday, police arrested Sardar in connection with a case in which he duped a man from Nadia district of ₹12 lakh with a fake gold idol. A mob, however, attacked the police team and snatched Sardar. Allegations also surfaced miscreants had fired a few rounds to scare off the police.