Police arrested a suspected arms peddler and seized firearms, magazines, and live cartridges from him here on Sunday.

Pradeep Kumar Yadav, the district police chief, intercepted a two-wheeler and managed to nab Rakimul Sheikh. “The bike tried to move away and our men chased it. Rakimul, who was the pillion rider, has been arrested. Three improvised firearms, five magazines, and nine rounds of live ammunitions have been recovered from him,” said Yadav.

“Habib Sheikh, Rakimul’s accomplice, who was riding the two-wheeler, however, managed to escape. The police are searching for him,” he added.

“We need to know from where the duo obtained the arms and ammunitions. Also, the rural polls are ahead and we are on alert as miscreants try to obtain firearms in an illegal manner to foment tension during elections,” said a police source.

In the past 72 hours, Malda police have seized nine improvised pistols, 10 magazines, and 16 rounds of live bullets from Kaliachak and Baishnabnagar police station areas, police sources said.