Major Arms Cache Seized in Rajshahi RAB Raid

In a significant blow to local criminal networks, a specialised unit of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-5) successfully intercepted a substantial cache of illegal firearms and ammunition in the Tanore Upazila of Rajshahi. The operation, which took place late on Saturday night, was the culmination of meticulous intelligence gathering. Acting on a tip-off regarding the storage of illicit weaponry, a crack team from the RAB-5 Rajshahi Headquarter Company descended upon three separate locations, uncovering a variety of lethal equipment hidden within domestic settings.

The raid focused on the village of Chuniyapara, where investigators targeted specific residential properties. In a series of coordinated searches, the elite forces discovered that the weaponry had been ingeniously concealed to avoid detection. At the home of an individual identified as Entaz Ali, officers found a portion of the haul buried beneath stacks of firewood located behind a cattle shed. Similar discoveries were made at the residences of two other locals, Abdus Sobhan and Joynal. In these instances, the arms were stashed under piles of fuel wood in storage sheds, suggesting a deliberate attempt by unknown actors to hide the hardware within the mundane surroundings of rural homesteads.

The inventory of the seized items points to a sophisticated level of armament. Among the recovered items was a high-quality foreign-made pistol featuring a distinctive wooden grip, along with several rounds of live ammunition and specialized components used for local weapon fabrication. The presence of narrow pipes and various spare parts has led authorities to investigate whether these locations were being used as temporary storage for a wider arms-smuggling syndicate or a clandestine workshop for assembling improvised firearms.

Inventory of Seized Weapons and Ammunition

Despite the gravity of the find, the origin and ownership of the arsenal remain shrouded in mystery. Law enforcement officials conducted immediate preliminary interrogations of the residents and neighbours at the scene; however, no one has yet come forward with information regarding who deposited the weapons. The items appeared to have been “abandoned” in their hiding spots, potentially by individuals who fled shortly before the raid.

Shahinuijaman Shahin, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Tanore Police Station, confirmed that the seized evidence has been formally handed over to police custody. He stated that the process of filing a formal case is currently underway, and a comprehensive forensic investigation will follow. Authorities are now working to trace the ballistic history of the foreign pistol to determine if it has been linked to previous violent crimes in the region.