A 50-year-old tribal was arrested by the Forest Department for possession of a country-made gun and gunpowder on his farmland in Kallathur village atop Jawadhu Hills on Wednesday.

Forest officials said that the arrested person was identified as C. Duraisamy. Initial inquiry revealed that based on a tip-off, a special team comprising S. Gunasekaran, forest range officer, Jamunamarathur range, forester Jayakumar, forest guard Abinesh Kumar and Nithiyanantham were patrolling Pattaraikadu reserve forest in the hills when the team noticed two tribals, namely Duraisamy and his accomplice R. Govindaraj, 30, with country-made guns.

Forest officials said that as the duo saw the forest team, they tried to escape. However, the team apprehended Duraisamy and seized the country-made gun and explosives from him. Govindaraj is absconding.

Forest officials said that a case was registered and Duraisamy was lodged at Central Prison in Vellore. Special teams were formed to nab Govindaraj. A probe is under way.