Shillong, Jan 12 (IANS): An official of the armed police in Meghalaya was Monday arrested from the Delhi-bound North East Express train at the Guwahati station for possessing a huge cache of illegal ammunition and explosives.

Ram Naresh Rai, a sub inspector in the Meghalaya Police 3rd battalion, was arrested by the Government Railway Protection Force, Inspector General of Police (Operations) G.H.P Raju told IANS.

Rai, who was going to his native village Bariyarpur in Bihar's Vaishali district, had more than 420 rounds of ammunition of various calibre, explosive material and a carbine.

"We don't know what his plans were...," Raju said.

Battalion commandant Maxwell B. Syiem has been asked to investigate the matter.

Prior to his posting in the 3rd battalion, Rai was an armourer of the Meghalaya Police 1st battalion.

The seized ammunition include 41 rounds of INSAS rifle, 60 rounds of .303 rifle, 78 rounds of 9mm, 49 rounds of .32 pistol, 124 rounds of 7.62, 20 rounds of .38 revolver, 10 rounds of AK-series rifles, 60 rounds of .22, one .36 grenade, fuse wire and a carbine.

A team of Meghalaya Police has rushed to Guwahati to take Rai into custody.