Agartala, March 24: In a major security breakthrough ahead of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) elections, railway police on Tuesday apprehended a suspected arms smuggler from Agartala Railway Station and recovered an illegal firearm along with ammunition from his possession.
The arrest was made during a routine checking operation carried out around noon near the parking area adjacent to the Railway Protection Force (RPF) outpost, officials said. The heightened surveillance comes in view of the upcoming council elections, with security agencies maintaining strict vigil to prevent any untoward incidents.
Officer-in-charge of the Government Railway Police (GRP) station, Raju Bhowmik, identified the accused as Subrata Dutta, a resident of Madhupur in Sepahijala district. He said the suspect was intercepted during the checking drive based on suspicion, following which a thorough search was conducted.
“During the search, we recovered a 7.65 mm pistol along with one magazine and two live cartridges from his possession. He was immediately taken into custody and the seized items were confiscated,” the officer said while briefing the media.
Preliminary interrogation of the accused revealed that the firearm had been procured from Bhagalpur in Bihar and transported to Tripura with the intention of illegal trafficking. Investigators believe the weapon may have been part of a larger smuggling network operating across states.
Police sources further indicated that the firearm was likely intended to be smuggled across the international border into Bangladesh. Authorities suspect the involvement of a cross-border syndicate, and efforts are underway to identify other members linked to the network.
A case has been registered against the accused under relevant provisions of the Arms Act. He is scheduled to be produced before a local court on Wednesday for further legal proceedings.
Officials said that the investigation is currently focused on tracing the supply chain of the weapon, identifying its intended recipients, and uncovering any interstate or international links. Security agencies are also examining whether the consignment had any connection with election-related activities.
With the TTAADC polls approaching, law enforcement agencies have intensified surveillance across key transit points, including railway stations and border areas, to curb illegal activities and ensure a peaceful electoral process.
