Following the recent recovery of two pistols from a youth at the Jirania Rail station near Agartala, the Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel have made another significant apprehension.
On Thursday evening, GRP personnel detained one Bishik Chakma from the Silchar-Agartala train at Dharmanagar Rail Station in Tripura en route to Agartala, leading to the seizure of two pistols from his possession. This incident once again underscores the alarming trend of arms trafficking utilizing Tripura as a corridor.
The arrest occurred today as GRP personnel conducted a thorough frisking of passengers upon the arrival of the Silchar to Agartala train at Dharmanagar Rail Station in the North District of Tripura.
The individual in question, identified as Bishik Chakma, aged 36, hailing from Karbook in Gomati District of Tripura was found possessing two pistols.
Bishik Chakma disclosed that he had acquired these firearms from Dimapur, purchasing one for Rs. 45,000 and the other for Rs. 4,000.
He claimed that he was supposed to sell the pistols to the Santi Vahini of Bangladesh. His journey was set to continue through the Raisyabari border in Dhalai district of Tripura to enter Bangladesh. Notably, this is not the first time Chakma has come under the authorities’ radar, as Police arrested him in 2020.
Commenting on the arrest, Officer-in-Charge of GRP Dharmanagar, Uttam Kumar Kaloi, disclosed he is undergoing a thorough investigation. At present, he is changing his statements regarding his intention – once he said that he was supposed to sell the firearms to Santi Vahini – but later changed his statement saying that the two pistols were supposed to be sold to one Sumon Chakma in Bangladesh
The arrest has sent shockwaves through Dharmanagar, a relatively tranquil town, leaving residents and authorities deeply concerned about the sudden appearance of illegal firearms.
Bishik Chakma is undergoing intense interrogation as authorities seek to uncover further details regarding the arms smuggling network operating through Tripura.