In a major embarrassment for the ruling CPM, a huge cache of arms and ammunition was seized last night from the house of Akbar Ali, the brother of Majid Master, a CPM leader of Sashan near Barasat in North 24-Parganas.

Two persons, including Akbar, were arrested and remanded today in police custody for a week after being produced before the Barasat District Court. Among the arms seized were two automatic rifles used by the Indian Army, besides a Belgian rifle.

Acting on a tip-off, a police team led by Paritosh Ghosh, the inspector-in-charge (IC) of Barasat police station, raided the house of Akbar Ali, a quack and a CPM activist, at Sara near Barasat around 9.30 pm. Altogether, 540 rounds of live cartridges and three rifles were seized. Akbar Ali and one of his associates Allauddin Ali were arrested.

The supporters of Trinamool Congress led by Basirhat MP Haji Nurul Islam staged a demonstration in front of the Barasat police station this morning and alleged he was involved in the murder of one of their party colleagues, Nur Ali Mollah, on October 27.

They also demanded the arrest of Majid Master, who is a member of North 24-Parganas district committee of the CPM.

Majid Master is a prominent CPM leader of the Sashan area and has been allegedly involved in forcible land acquisitions.

He is the only district leader in the state who was under police cover over the past one decade. He lost control over the area after the Lok Sabha elections when Trinamool candidates won the Barasat and Basirhat seats.