Two Bihar men were arrested in Agartala’s Salbagan area with two 9-mm pistols and three live cartridges during a joint operation by Tripura Police and Assam Rifles. Police suspect possible links to arms trafficking and have registered cases under the Arms Act.
Two men from Bihar were arrested with two 9-mm pistols and three live cartridges in Agartala’s Salbagan area following a joint operation by Tripura Police and Assam Rifles, police said on Monday.
The arrests were made after security personnel received information from a confidential source regarding the presence of two persons allegedly carrying firearms in the Salbagan area. Acting on the information, personnel from the NCC police station and Assam Rifles conducted a joint search operation in the area on Sunday.
During the operation, the security personnel detained two suspected youths for questioning. A subsequent thorough search of their belongings led to the recovery of two 9-mm pistols and three live cartridges, police officials said.
SDPO NCC Subrata Barman told reporters on Monday that the operation was launched after police received specific information from a confidential source about the suspected movement of the two individuals carrying firearms.
“Both the arrested persons are permanent residents of Bihar. We have seized the firearms they had been carrying without any legal authorization,” Barman said.
Police are now investigating the circumstances under which the two men came into possession of the firearms. Officials suspect that the arrested persons may have links with arms trafficking networks operating between Bihar and the northeastern region.
However, investigators have not yet established the source of the recovered weapons or determined where the firearms were allegedly intended to be supplied. Police said these aspects would be examined during the course of the investigation.
Cases have been registered against both accused persons under relevant provisions of the Arms Act. Their interrogation is currently underway, with investigators seeking to determine whether they were acting alone or had assistance from other individuals.
Police are also examining whether the two arrested men have any accomplices who may still be operating in the area. Further questioning and investigation are expected to provide more information about their activities, movements and possible connections to illegal arms networks.
The two accused persons were produced before a court on Monday, where police sought their remand for further interrogation. Investigators are expected to question them about the origin of the pistols, the purpose for which the weapons were allegedly being carried and whether they were connected to a wider arms trafficking operation.
The latest arrests have once again drawn attention to the movement of illegal firearms into Tripura. The state has witnessed several arrests of suspected arms dealers and carriers in recent years, with a number of accused persons reportedly originating from Bihar.
Police investigations in previous cases have suggested that illegal firearms may be transported into the northeastern state through different routes, including railway networks. Security agencies have consequently increased surveillance at important transit points, particularly railway stations and other locations considered vulnerable to arms smuggling.
In an earlier joint operation, Tripura Police and the Railway Protection Force arrested two suspected arms and drug peddlers after they arrived in Agartala on an express train. The accused persons, who were reportedly from Bihar, were detained at Agartala railway station.
During that operation, Tripura Police personnel and RPF troops recovered a loaded pistol and around 100 bottles of banned cough syrup from the possession of the two youths. The arrests highlighted concerns over the alleged transportation of illegal firearms and other prohibited substances through railway routes.
In November last year, Tripura Police also arrested three persons, including an alleged arms supplier from Bihar, following the seizure of two country-made firearms and four magazines during a patrol operation in Agartala.
In another major recovery on May 8 last year, eight pistols and 16 empty magazines were recovered from an express train at Agartala railway station. The Government Railway Police and Railway Protection Force carried out the joint operation after the Tripura Sundari Express arrived from Firozpur in Punjab.
The repeated recovery of firearms and arrests of suspected arms carriers have prompted security agencies to maintain heightened vigilance over the movement of weapons into Tripura. Authorities are also examining possible links between local networks and interstate arms suppliers.
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In the latest case, police said the investigation remains at an early stage and that more details are expected to emerge after the accused are interrogated. Officials are particularly focused on establishing the source of the two 9-mm pistols, their intended destination and whether other members of an alleged arms trafficking network are involved.
For now, both accused remain under investigation after being booked under the Arms Act, while police continue efforts to identify any wider network connected to the seized firearms.
