(District-North 24 Parganas)
On 5th February 2022 under South Bengal Frontier, troops of Border Out Post Gumti, 118 Battalion apprehended 02 Bangladeshi smugglers with 6.2 kg of Ganja and 43,000 Bangladeshi currency from their area of responsibility. These smugglers were going from India to Bangladesh from the area of North 24 Parganas district.
On 5th February 2022 at about 0610 hrs, based on reliable information, the troops of Border Out Post Gumti, 118 Battalion, Sector Kolkata noticed the movement of two suspicious persons in the line of duty. Troops challenged and apprehended them. Troops recovered 6.2 kg of Ganja, 43,000/- Bangladeshi currency and some medicines from them. They revealed that they were taking these items for their personal use. The total value of the seized goods is Rs. 1,36,158/-.
The apprehended smugglers have been identified as Safikul Islam, age 27 years, S/o Inayat Ali, village Naltasreef, PS Kaliganj, District Satkhira, Bangladesh and Saddam Sardar, age 30 years, S/o Latif Sardar, village Sapara, PD Paikgacha, District Khulna, Bangladesh.
During preliminary interrogation, Safikul Islam revealed that he is a Bangladeshi national. He revealed that before the lockdown, he had come to India through passport from Bhumra border to meet his brother Mukul Islam, age 25 years. Mukul Islam is living near Bhebara Railway Station, Basirhat for almost last 10 years. He revealed that after meeting his brother, he again returned to Bangladesh. He revealed that 3 months ago he had come illegally from the area of Koikhali in search of work in India. For crossing the border, he had given Taka 8000/- to Bangladeshi tout Latif village Koikhali, Shyam Nagar, Bangladesh. After coming to India, he went to Pemanchura, Tamil Nadu and worked as a mason there. He further revealed that this work was given to him by a Bangladeshi contractor Jayanti, village Kaliganj, Satkhira, Bangladesh. He revealed that today he was crossing the border from Basirhat with the help of Indian tout Mujibur after converting Indian money into Bangladeshi currency. For this crossing he had given Rs 7,000/- to the tout.
During preliminary interrogation, Sadam Sardar revealed that he is a Bangladeshi national. 10 years ago he came illegally to India from Bhopura border with the help of a Bangladeshi tout, Rulbari, village Naubaka, PS Shyamnagar, District Satkhira, Bangladesh. He revealed that he had given Taka 10,000/- to a Bangladeshi tout for this work. After coming to India, he moved to Nager Bazar, Dumdum Airport area and worked there as a sweeper. He further revealed that this work was given to him by a person named Prakash, Dumdum. He revealed that around 700 Bangladeshi nationals live in the area of Dumdum. He revealed that while living in Dumdum, he married a Bangladeshi woman Amina Khatoon, age 28, who lives in Dumdum. Today he reached Gumti border via Dhamakhali, Mullapara, Yogeshganj with the help of Indian tout Zakir Hussain, S/o Jalil Tarafdar, village Uttar Govind Kati Purbapara, PS Hingalganj, District North 24 Parganas. For this work he had given Rs. 10,000/- to the tout.
The apprehended smugglers along with the seized items were handed over to the Hingalganj Police Station for further legal action.
Public Relations Officer, South Bengal Frontier stated in a statement that the Border Security Force is taking strict measures to check smuggling along the Indo-Bangladesh border. Further, the officer stated in strong words that the Border Security Force will not allow smuggling under any circumstances.