Agartala, Aug 23 (IANS): Four militants from the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) have been arrested in Tripura, police said Thursday.

The guerrillas were held Wednesday evening after entering India from Bangladesh. They were carrying Rs.2.41 lakh in Indian money and 500 Bangladeshi taka besides four mobile phones.

Acting on a tip, the arrests took place at Ambassa in north Tripura while they were trying to go to Nagaland by hiring a small car, Inspector General of Police Nepal Das told IANS.

The four told police that they killed their camp commander and another leader following a quarrel at their camp at Khagrachari in Bangladesh Aug 15.

Later, they deserted the camp with four sophisticated rifles, one pistol and 35 high explosive grenades.

"The terrorists sold their arms and ammunition to another separatist outfit of the northeast based in Bangladesh," Das said.

The militants, aged 25 to 30 years and residents of Nagaland and Manipur, crossed into Tripura from Bangladesh Tuesday.

The NSCN-IM has been operating a ceasefire with New Delhi since 1997.