On May 2, 2024 Vigilant troops of border outpost Ranghat, 68 Battalion, BSF under the South Bengal Frontier thwarted the gold smuggling attempt and apprehended a smuggler with 14 Gold pieces of different sizes when the smuggler tried to smuggle these gold pieces by hiding in the cloth belt tied at the waist from Bangladesh to India. The total weight of the gold is 1402 grams and the estimated Market value is Rs 1,05,15,500/-.
As per the BSF’s Spokesperson, On 02 May 2024, troops of the border outpost Ranghat received specific information about the possible smuggling of gold through the Rajkol improvised gate of BOP Ranghat. Upon getting information, the company commander promptly alerted a particular gate sentry of the respective gate and instructed thorough checking/frisking of every individual should be strictly done. On getting instructions troops started thorough checking/frisking of every individual in the presence of the gate commander with HHMD. At about 0841hrs an old man was spotted in the CCTV camera, who was approaching towards CCTV control room of Rajkol. CCTV control Room sentry carried out a thorough search of the old man with the help of HHMD. During checking HHMD detected that the old man tied heavy metal around his waist with clothes. After a thorough search of the old man, jawans found 14 gold pieces of different sizes from the cloth tied on his waist.
The apprehended old man identified as Ram Tarafdar S/O Lt.Bhagirath Tarafdar, Vill-Rajkol, PS-Bagdah, Distt. North 24 pargna(WB).
During the interrogation, Ram Tarafdar revealed that He along with his wife – Savita Tarafdar was living ahead of the fence in the Rajkol village. Today morning at about 0730hrs when he was cutting grass on the bank of river Kodiliya, one Bangladeshi national Jashim Mondal resident of Matila village coming from Labutala village side and approached him and offered Rs1500 to carry this consignment and pass it on to an unknown man of Rajkol Village. After agreeing with the offer he took the packet which was wrapped in clothes and he immediately tied it to his waist and moved to Rajkol Gate to hand it over to that unknown man. On approaching the Rajkol Gate he was detained by the BSF with gold consignment.
The Seized Gold and arrested smuggler were handed over to the Customs Station, Bagdah for further legal action.
A.K Arya, DIG, Public Relations Officer of BSF, South Bengal Frontier, expressed happiness over this achievement of the BSF. He further said that strict action would be taken against those involved in smuggling. He appealed to the people living on the border to contact BSF’s Seema Sathi helpline number if they get any information related to gold smuggling and can give information to BSF on number 14419. South Bengal Frontier has also issued another number 9903472227 on which WhatsApp messages or voice messages related to gold smuggling can also be sent. A suitable reward amount will be given to the person providing concrete information and his identity will be kept confidential.