(District-North 24 Parganas)
On April 09, 2022, under the South Bengal Frontier, the troops of Border Security Force (BSF) thwarted the plans of the smugglers and apprehended 02 smugglers with 33 kg of betel nut. The estimated value of the seized betel nut and e-rickshaw (Toto) is Rs 1,09,850/-.which was being brought to India from Bangladesh through smuggling from Hakimpur area of North 24 Parganas district.
On 09 April 2022, the troops of Border Out Post Hakimpur, 112 Battalion, Sector Kolkata, carried out a search operation on the International Border. Between 1715- 1730 hrs, the jawans saw two suspicious e-rickshaws (Toto) approaching who were trying to go from Hakimpur Bazar to Swarupada. When the jawans tried to search by stopping both the e-rickshaw (Toto), the smugglers suddenly tried to run away but the alert jawans apprehended the smuggler without giving any chance. When BSF troops searched him, 12 kg of betel nut was recovered from an improvised cavity made under the rear seat of one e-rickshaw (Toto) and 21 kg from an improvised cavity made in the roof of another e-rickshaw (Toto). The jawans soon seized the betel nut(supari) and took both the smugglers into custody for questioning.The identity of the apprehended smuggler is i) Mahibula Sardar, Age – 24 years, Village + Post Office – Hakimpur, PS – Swarupnagar, ii) Imam Hussain Dhalai, Age – 20 years, Village – Tarali (Majhir Para), Post Office – Hakimpur, Distt. North 24 Parganas, West Bengal.
During interrogation, the apprehended smugglers Mahibula Sardar and Imam Hussain Dhalai revealed that both of them are Indian citizens and have been working as smugglers for the last few days. This morning (February 09, 2022) he had taken all these supari from Sirajul Ghazi (Tarali (Majhir Para), Post Office – Hakimpur), which was to be given back to Sirajul Ghazi only after crossing the BSF duty line. For this work he was to get Rs.500/-. But while crossing the duty line near Hakimpur check post, alert troops of the Border Security Force apprehended him with all these betel nut.
The apprehended smugglers and seized betel nut have been handed over to Customs Office Tentulia for further legal proceedings.
Narayan Chand, Commanding Officer, 112 Battalion expressed happiness over the achievement of the jawans, in which they thwarted the smuggling attempts and apprehended 02 smugglers and seized 33 kg of betel nut. He stated that this has been possible only because of the alertness displayed by his jawans on duty. The officer clearly stated that nothing can hide from the eyes of his battalion troops.