Couple held with firearm, live cartridges in Sonamura border belt
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, November 16, 2025
In a major crackdown on illegal arms smuggling along the Indo–Bangla border, police have arrested three persons over the past 19 days and seized two pistols, live cartridges, a sharp-edged weapon and a motorcycle, officials said.
According to police, the border areas under Sonamura subdivision in Tripura have increasingly become transit points for clandestine firearm movement. Acting on intelligence inputs, Sonamura police carried out a series of targeted operations across the region.
The first arrest took place on October 28, when police apprehended a youth identified as Sadek Mia of Tokchhara village under Melaghar police station. One pistol, a sharp weapon and a motorcycle were recovered from him. Police said Sadek is suspected to be involved in drug trafficking and is also a substance abuser.
The second major operation was conducted on Saturday afternoon, when a joint team of Sonamura police and BSF personnel from Srimantapur Border Out Post raided a house in Bhogjyod village under the Srimantapur Gram Panchayat. The raid was based on specific intelligence suggesting illegal arms possession.
During the search, the team arrested a couple, Bablu Mia and his wife Morsheda Begum, and recovered one pistol and four live cartridges from their residence. The raid, led by officer-in-charge Tapas Das of Sonamura police station, witnessed a brief scuffle after Bablu Mia allegedly resisted the raiding team. Police and BSF personnel managed to overpower him and prevent any attempt to flee.
The raid drew a large crowd of residents, prompting security personnel to heighten vigilance and ensure law and order at the site.
Following the incident, Additional Superintendent of Police and District Superintendent of Police Bijay Debbarma rushed to Sonamura to review the situation. After receiving a detailed briefing, the district police chief instructed officers to conduct a thorough investigation to trace the source of the firearms and determine whether a larger network is operating in the area.
The arrested couple will be produced before the Sonamura court on Sunday.
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