Overview

• Searches began at 6 am with Central Armed Police Forces providing security, and operations were continuing with no arrests announced.
• Teams covered Behala, Gopiballavpur in Jhargram, Kalyani in Nadia, Salt Lake and locations in Kolkata, North 24 Parganas and Midnapore.
• Premises linked to the trade, including G.D. Mining’s office and an insurance agent’s home in Kolkata’s Regent Colony, were searched.
• A key target was Sheikh Zahirul Ali, whose residence near the Subarnarekha River was searched as officials probed alleged illegal extraction and trading.
• Officials cited forged permits and fake challans as part of the alleged racket and described efforts to map laundering networks, while BJP and TMC exchanged accusations over the probe’s timing.