(District-North 24 Parganas)
On April 11, 2022, 03 smugglers have been apprehended with 73 bottles of liquor in two separate incidents by campaigning against smuggling in the border area of North 24 Parganas district by BSF troops. One of the apprehended smugglers is also a graduate student.
In the first incident, on April 11, 2022, at around 2310 hrs, the vigilant troops of the Border Out Post ranghat of 68 Battalion BSF apprehended two youths on a motorcycle with 10 small bottles of liquor, 3 bottles of country spirit and 20 bottles of beer. The apprehended yuths were identified as Subendu Sarkar (21) and Hapijul Tarafdar (25), residents of Kulia, a border village in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district.
During interrogation, Subendu Sarkar revealed that he is pursuing his graduation and at the behest of his brother Santanu Sarkar, he was bringing this liquor from a liquor shop located in Baghdah. He further revealed that his brother runs a liquor shop illegally in the bordering area. The same Hapijul Tarafdar revealed that he was moving to him home after working from Helencha, when Subendu Sarkar asked him for a lift. He didn’t know he had alcohol.
In another incident, on 11 April, 2022, the troops of Border Out Post Dobarpara, 158 Battalion nabbed a smuggler with 40 bottles of country liquor near Rajvanshi Nagar – Bornberia road (border road). The smuggler has been identified as Soumitra Burman, 43 years of age, Village – Bornberia, Thana – Gaighata, District – North 24 Parganas.
During interrogation, the smuggler revealed that he is involved in smuggling activities for the last three years. This morning (April 11) he had bought all the bottles of liquor from Sosadanga wine shop which was to be handed over to the Bangladeshi smuggler at Bornberia Market by crossing the BSF duty line. Due to which he had to get 40 rupees per bottle.
The apprehended youths were handed over to the Customs Office/Police Station for further legal action.
The South Bengal Frontier issued a statement saying that the Border Security Force is taking strict measures to prevent smuggling along the Indo-Bangladesh border, due to which smugglers are being caught continuously. Further, the officer stated that the traffickers spoil their lives by indulging in crimes like smuggling for their own benefit to the boys studying in their own family.
