West Bengal STF arrests gun shop owners in illegal trade case after a raid on a historic Kolkata store exposed a suspected racket. On Thursday, September 4, 2025, the Special Task Force detained three brothers — Subir Daw, Abhir Daw, and Subrata Daw — who jointly owned Nursing Chunder Daw & Co., one of India’s oldest gun shops.
Established in 1835 in Dalhousie, the 190-year-old shop has long been a landmark in North Kolkata. The Daw family, part of an old aristocratic lineage, managed the store for generations. However, recent investigations suggest the legacy business was misused for unlawful activities.
Earlier this year, in February, two employees of the shop were arrested for allegedly selling guns and cartridges illegally. That incident sparked a deeper probe, which culminated in the latest arrests of the Daw brothers.
According to STF officials, the shop’s operations were being monitored closely after reports of unlicensed transactions emerged. The seized records and materials will be examined further to trace the scale of the racket.
The arrests have shocked Kolkata, where the store was regarded as a historical institution. Authorities emphasized that no business, no matter how old, can be allowed to operate outside the law.
