Youth arrested with pipe guns and cartridges in Malda ahead of PM Modi’s visit

A youth was arrested by Malda police for carrying weapons just before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the district and the inauguration of the Vande Bharat Sleeper Train. The operation was carried out by the Samsi Police Outpost under heightened security measures for the Prime Minister’s visit.

The arrested individual has been identified as Pustam Rai, a resident of Jhaljhalia in Malda district. According to officials, Rai was spotted around 2 a.m. on Thursday near Samsi Railway Station carrying a suspicious bag while heading towards Agril High School. Police personnel on duty, led by ASI Barun Devanath, stopped him for questioning after noting irregularities in his responses.

A search of the bag revealed two pipe guns wrapped in a sheet and five live cartridges. Police suspect that the weapons had been brought from another state, and authorities are investigating Rai’s intended destination and the purpose of carrying the arms ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit.

Ramchandra Saha, in-charge of Samsi Police Outpost, confirmed that the youth was immediately taken into custody and that further investigation is ongoing. Authorities have intensified security in the district to prevent any untoward incidents during the high-profile visit.