Agartala, Nov 4 — Tripura Police have arrested two persons from Bihar and seized three pistols, 50 rounds of ammunition and six magazines in Agartala on Wednesday, days ahead of the November 27 urban local body elections, officials said.
A police official said that the arrests were made during a special operation near a Shiva temple close to Battala bridge following intelligence inputs about the suspected possession of illegal firearms.
The official said the police team acted on a tip-off and detained the two suspects during the operation. Two mobile phones were also recovered.
According to police, the seized pistols bear the inscription "Made in Italy" and appear to be factory-manufactured. Their authenticity and origin will be determined through forensic examination and further investigation, he said. The identities of the arrested persons have not been disclosed.
Police have registered a case and are investigating the possible source and intended use of the firearms.
The recovery comes amid heightened security preparations for the November 27 civic elections, which include polls to the Agartala Municipal Corporation.
The investigation is underway to establish the full circumstances surrounding the recovery of the arms and ammunition and determine whether others were involved in the case.
Meanwhile, the Tripura Police last week seized 200 rounds of live cartridges from a passenger-carrying vehicle during a naka checking operation at Maharani in Gomati district and arrested an arms trafficker in connection with the seizure.
The official said that the vehicle, a Max, was travelling from Agartala towards Raishyabari in Dhalai district when it was intercepted by police near Maharani Police Outpost.
According to the official, police stopped the vehicle during a routine checking operation and conducted a search, during which 200 rounds of live cartridges were recovered. One person, identified as Bimal Chakma alias Jayanta Lal Chakma, 37, was subsequently arrested in connection with the incident.