RAUTAHAT: Rautahat District Police have made public a Maoist cadre, who was arrested in possession of an automatic Italian pistol on Sunday.

The arrestee has been identified as Rakesh Sah (33) of Balchalanpur in Bishrampur VDC-6 of Rautahat district.

According to SP Ganesh Raj Regmi, a police team deployed from Garuda Area Police Post, under the command of Inspector Santulal Jaiswar, arrested Sah with the pistol and its magazine.

Police acted on the tip-off about Sah’s involvement in the illegal trade of arms.

The security personnel in civvies had made a deal to acquire the pistol for Rs 40,000 and called him near a bridge in Balchanpur in the district to nab the suspect.

Police have seized a pistol, a magazine consisting 12 rounds of bullets, mobile phone, citizenship certificate and other documents. Sah will be charged under the Arms and Ammunition Act 1962.

Regmi further said that smugglers have been taking advantage of the current Tarai turmoil to accelerate the criminal deeds. Police, however, are committed to maintaining peace in the district, he added.