Madrassa sealed after arms recovery; 3 held

Motihari: A special investigation team (SIT) of the police, acting on a tip-off, conducted a raid at the Islamia Madrassa in Gawandara village under Chakiya police station in East Champaran on Sunday and recovered a pistol and live cartridges from the premises. Three people, including the madrassa’s cleric, caretaker and cleaner, were arrested during the operation, police said, adding the madrassa was sealed.East Champaran SP Swarn Prabhat said police had received specific information about illegal arms being sold in the Chakiya police station area and that the lead pointed towards the madrassa. Acting on the input, the SIT team surrounded the premises and carried out a thorough search.During the search, police recovered a pistol, several live cartridges and some documents from the madrassa building. A forensic team, dog squad and other experts were called to the spot to assist in the investigation. “CCTV footage from the premises and surrounding areas is also being examined to establish the sequence of events and identify any wider network behind the alleged activities. The three arrested people are currently being interrogated,” the SP said.Police are also examining possible links with the banned Popular Front of India (PFI). According to the SP, preliminary investigation suggests the weapons might have been planted as part of a larger conspiracy. The activities of the three arrested people are being closely scrutinised and their mobile phones have been seized for examination.Police sources said the same madrassa in Gawandara had earlier come under the scanner when Yakub alias Usman alias Sultan, described as a key operative of PFI, was arrested there by the Chakiya police with assistance from the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS).