Murshidabad, 2 November (H.S.): Acting on a tip-off, troops from the Boyraghat border outpost of the 71st Battalion of the BSF, deployed on the India-Bangladesh international border in West Bengal, acted swiftly and apprehended a notorious smuggler while he was attempting to smuggle illegal gold worth over ₹5.5 million hidden in the footrest of a motorcycle through the Boyraghat checkpoint area.
As per information, on Saturday morning, troops from the Boyraghat border outpost of the 71st Battalion of the BSF, located in Murshidabad district, received reliable and accurate information from a source that a man from Pirojpur village, near India-Bangladesh border, was about to transport illegal gold smuggled from Bangladesh through the checkpoint area. Upon receiving the information, troops deployed at the checkpoint were put on high alert. Around 10 a.m., soldiers stopped a suspicious man riding a motorcycle. During a thorough search, they recovered two biscuits and two small pieces of gold hidden inside the motorcycle's footrest. Acting swiftly, the soldiers arrested the smuggler, seized the gold, and brought him to the border outpost at Boyraghat for further investigation.
Initial interrogation revealed that the man is a resident of Raghunathganj police station area. He further stated that the motorcycle was handed over to him by another local resident, who was to deliver it to another person. He was promised ₹2,000 in exchange for the confiscated gold, but BSF soldiers apprehended him before he could do so.
The total weight of the seized gold is 461.290 grams, with an estimated value of ₹55,35,480. The arrested smuggler, along with the seized gold and motorcycle, has been handed over to the relevant department for further legal action.
The Public Relations Officer of the BSF South Bengal Frontier, while confirming the gold smuggling incident and praising the soldiers, said that the Border Security Force, thanks to its strong intelligence network and vigilant soldiers, is keeping a close watch on all types of illegal activities taking place on the India-Bangladesh international border. He appealed to the residents of the border areas that if they have any information related to gold smuggling, they should immediately share it through text or voice message on the BSF's 'Seema Sathi' helpline number 14419 or WhatsApp number 9903472227. A suitable reward will be provided for providing credible information and the identity of the informant will be kept completely confidential.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey
