Sambalpur, June 7: Sambalpur police arrested arms peddler Ramachandra Tripathy while he was allegedly about to sell arms and ammunition.

The cops seized two single shot pistols and live ammunition from him.

“Following a tip-off, police intercepted Ramachandra near a foreign liquor shop at Modipara. During the search, two single shot pistols and live ammunition were recovered from him,” said sub-divisional police officer P.K. Mohapatra.

“During interrogation, Ramachandra revealed that he had bought the weapons from Jiten Bihari, who was working as a mason at Vedanta Aluminium Limited in Jharsuguda. He also said that he was supposed to sell the pistols and the ammunition,” said the police officer.

Ramachandra also used to work at Vedanta and had become friends with Bihari there. He had bought the pistols from Bihari and kept them in his house. However, fearing police action, he had decided to sell them, said Mohapatra.

Following interrogation, police also searched his house. However, no more arms and ammunition were found there. A police team had also gone to Jharsuguda to nab Bihari, who is from Bihar. But they found out that Bihari had left town.

The cops have yet to find out to whom Ramachandra was supposed to sell the arms and ammunition.

“We are still inquiring into the matter. More facts will come to light after interrogation,” said the sub-divisional police officer.

“Ramachandra had left his job at Vedanta a year ago. He was involved in arms peddling. He was also involved in two robbery cases at Kuchinda of Sambalpur district in 1993. He has been booked under Section 25/27 of the Arms Act He will be produced before court today. We are also trying to nab Bihari,” said Mohapatra.