Two persons were arrested by Jorhat police from Bonai-Robi Gaon under Teok police station in Jorhat district of Assam in the wee hours of Monday.
The police recovered a 7.65 mm pistol from their possession.
Acting on specific information, the Jorhat police arrested the duo, identified as 27-year-old Biswajit Neog and 38-year-old Tapan Saikia from their houses.
The duo has been booked under sections 25(1) A and 35 of the Arms Act for illegal possession of arms.
The police have registered a case (No 127/20) under Teok police station against the duo.
According to police sources, the two arrested persons told the police that they had found the pistol while mining sand in river Janji and kept it with them.
Sources said the sand was illegally mined from the river.
Police, however, said even if this was the case they should not have kept the pistol with them and handed it over to the police.
Police are investigating whether the duo has links with any militant outfits.
According to the Section 25(1) of Arms Act – bring into, or take out of, India, any arms or ammunition of any class or description in contravention of section 11, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than 3 years but which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to fine.