Tripura Police Nabs Trio with Illegal Firearms in Amtali Bypass Operation
In a significant crackdown, the Tripura Police apprehended three individuals on Monday, November 25, 2025, for the illegal possession of firearms on the outskirts of Agartala. The arrested men were found with two pistols and four magazines, raising concerns about interstate arms smuggling.
Details of the Arrest and the Accused
The operation was led by a team from the Arundhatinagar police station during routine patrolling near the Brajeshwar bridge area on the Amtali Bypass. The police spotted three men acting suspiciously, and upon searching them, recovered the illegal weapons and mobile phones from their possession.
The individuals have been identified as Tinku Debbarma (35) and Sumenda Debbarma (40), both residents of Barkathal in West Tripura district, and Sibash Kuma (29), who hails from the Dumeria Khurd area of Bihar.
Namit Pathak, the Superintendent of Police for West Tripura, confirmed the details to reporters, stating that the man from Bihar is alleged to have been the one who brought the firearms into the state.
Ongoing Investigation and Past Incidents
A case has been registered against the trio under the stringent Indian Arms Act. Preliminary investigations point towards the weapons being trafficked from Bihar into Tripura. However, critical questions remain unanswered.
The police have stated that the intended recipients of the weapons, the scale of the arms smuggling racket connected to this case, and the motive for bringing the arms into Tripura are yet to be ascertained. Officials, including Additional Superintendent of Police Dhruba Nath and Sushanta Deb from Arundhatinagar police station, were part of the successful raid team.
This incident is not an isolated one for the Tripura Police. The state has witnessed a series of similar seizures in recent months:
- November 15: A man was arrested with a factory-made pistol, a magazine, and four live rounds near the Srimantapur border in Sepahijala district.
- June 15: Lalit Kumar Reang (54) was arrested in North Tripura with a pistol and ammunition.
- May 30: A 25-year-old woman was held in North Tripura with a pistol, live cartridges, and 7,800 yaba tablets worth Rs. 20 lakh.
- Early May: A joint raid at Agartala railway station led to the recovery of eight factory-made pistols and 16 empty magazines from the Tripura Sundari Express.
These recurring incidents highlight the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in curbing the flow of illegal weapons into the northeastern state.
