Fake currency unearthed in Bengal

Kolkata, June 17 (UNI) Police unearthed fake currency of Rs 1.5 lakh from a clandestine factory and arrested two persons during a raid in central Kolkata last night.

Acting on a tip-off, a police team raided the factory on Alimuddin Street, close to the CPI(M) State Headquarters, to recover bundles of fake notes--all in the denomination of 1,000 rupees, Deputy Commissioner of Police(Central) Ajay Ranade said.

He said two persons, suspected to be involved in the racket, were arrested while sophisticated machines and tools used for printing notes had been seized.

The raid was conducted on the basis of information gathered from two other persons arrested from North Kolkata yesterday, he said.

Mr Ranade said the seized notes looked exactly as original ones and police suspected that a sizable amount of such fake currency is already been in circulation.

''It gives us an impression that a big organised gang is behind this operation. We have started an investigation to find whehter it is an international racket, he said.

UNI KDG BA PA RN1929