Three held with foreign-made pistol in Pirojpur

Zakir Hossin, Pirojpur: Police arrested three alleged arms traders and recovered a foreign-made pistol and one round of ammunition during a special drive in Pirojpur Sadar early Friday, officials said.The arrestees are Md Hasan alias Mehedi Hasan, 27, Md Al Amin Sheikh, 26, and Md Ali Hossain, 40, of Tejdaskathi village under Tona Union in Pirojpur Sadar Upazila.According to police, a team led by Officer-in-Charge Md Shariful Islam, along with Inspector (Investigation) Radheshyam Sarkar and Sub-Inspector Radha Raman Bhowmik, detained Hasan and Al Amin at Kadamtala Bazar around 2:30am during a special operation.During initial questioning, the two allegedly admitted to selling a foreign-made pistol, a magazine and 46 rounds of ammunition to Ali Hossain for Tk 30,000, police said.Based on their statements, police raided Ali Hossain's residence and arrested him in the presence of local village police and residents. A foreign-made pistol and one round of ammunition were recovered from his possession and seized, police added.A case has been filed against the three under Sections 19A and 19F of the Arms Act, 1878. Police said efforts are continuing to recover the remaining ammunition and identify others involved in the alleged arms trading network.Speaking at a press briefing at Pirojpur Sadar Police Station on Friday, Superintendent of Police Mohammad Monjur Ahmed Siddiqui said the operation was part of the district police's zero-tolerance policy against illegal arms, terrorism and narcotics. He said the drives against illegal arms and drug trafficking would continue as part of efforts to ensure public safety and maintain law and order in the district.