The picture of a youth holding two pistols that had gone viral on social media led to the arrest of the 24-year-old in Maniktala on Saturday and has turned the focus on arms dealers who lure potential buyers with pictures.

Kishan Jayasara was arrested after a team of officers went around looking for someone with a watch similar to the one in the youth's post. Police said an 8mm pistol with a few bullets was seized from him.

Kishan has denied links with illegal arms trade and claimed that someone had hacked his Facebook profile and planted the picture.

“Asked about the second pistol, he denied before saying it was with a friend in Bhatpara,” said an officer of Maniktala police station.

The police conducted a raid in Bhatpara but did not find the accused. Officers said they learnt that the Bhatpara youth was a murder accused and part of a criminal gang.

“It seems the two were trying to form a close group to sell improvised firearms,” the officer said.