Acting on a tip off, a team of the district crime branch of Cooch Behar district police arrested three persons with five improvised firearms on Monday night.

Sources said the team, led by Soumalya Aich, the officer-in-charge of the crime branch, intercepted an SUV at Harinchawra rail gate, an entry point of Cooch Behar town.

“The vehicle was searched and the firearms were retrieved. All three persons in the SUV have been arrested. We suspect they are associated with an illegal firearms selling racket and had been here to sell these items,” said Sumit Kumar, SP, Cooch Behar.

During preliminary investigation, the police came to know that the trio had plans to deliver the firearms in Dinhata.

Those arrested have been identified as Rahul Kumar Mahato and Sunny Kumar

Paswan, both residents of Purnia district of Bihar and Dhananjay Shah, who is from Madhepura district of the same state.