The security forces in Tripura have seized a total of 81 illegal firearms, including 51 country made guns, from 2021 to Aug 2023. The firearms were recovered during various operations against criminal activities in the state.
The Tripura State Assembly was informed about the details of the recovered firearms by Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha, who also holds the Home Department portfolio, in a written reply on January 8, 2024.
He said, “A Total of 30 firearms were recovered in 2021. It included 19 country made Guns and 11 different varieties of pistols – both country made and foreign country made”.
Dr Saha continued and gave further details. In 2022, the number of recovered firearms dropped to 25 including one ‘old grenade’ of unknown origin.
Besides, the recovered items included 16 country made Guns and remaining were different types of pistols including two Italy made pistols.
In the first eight months of 2023 (August 31), a total of 26 firearms were recovered. Like previous years, most of the recovered arms (16) were country made Guns. Besides, one unbranded automatic country made pistol was also recovered along other country- and foreign made pistols.
In the past three years, the security personnel recovered firearms that included different types of pistols, both country made and foreign made, and one old grenade of unknown origin.
Most of the foreign made pistols were from Italy, while some were from USA, China, and Germany.
Among the total 11 foreign made firearms recovered in the past three years, 6 were Italy made while 2 each were China and USA made and one was Germany made.
Dr Saha also said that 104 persons were accused of being involved in the illegal possession and trade of firearms, and 75 of them were arrested.