BSF arrests smuggler along India-B'desh border, recovers gold valued at Rs 1.49cr 

Kolkata, Feb 19 (IANS) The Border Security Force (BSF) has arrested a smuggler and recovered 1.74 kg of gold from his possession in Nadia district of West Bengal, an official said on Wednesday. 

The smuggler is from the border village of Phulbari, which is within the jurisdiction of the Banpur Border Outpost.

"On Tuesday, troops of the 32 Bn BSF acted on credible intelligence regarding an attempt by a smuggler from Banpur to smuggle gold into India from Bangladesh. Accordingly, they laid an ambush near the border fence along the Indo-Bangladesh Border (IBB) and waited. Before long, they spotted a person approaching the border fence from Phulbari. He reached the fence and picked up two packets that had been thrown across by his associates in Bangladesh. As soon as he picked up the packets, the man was surrounded and ordered to surrender," said N.K. Pandey, DIG and spokesperson, South Bengal Frontier, BSF.

According to the DIG, the man attempted to flee but was warned by the BSF personnel. When he refused to abide, a BSF jawan fired a round from his non-lethal Pump Action Gun (PAG) in another direction. The smuggler lost his nerve and surrendered.

"The smuggler was taken to Banpur and the packets were opened. They contained four gold bars, five gold biscuits, and a small piece of gold. The total weight of the seized gold is approximately 1.74 kg, with an estimated value of Rs 1,48,93,575. The smuggler, along with the gold, has been handed over to the concerned authorities for further processing," Pandey said.

This is the second major breakthrough for the South Bengal Frontier of the BSF this year. On February 14, troops posted at the Bithari BOP in West Bengal's North 24-Parganas district had arrested a carrier with 25 gold biscuits valued at Rs 2.96 crore. This being the marriage season in West Bengal, attempts to smuggle gold from across the border have gone up, a senior BSF official said.

"Our troops have zero-tolerance towards smuggling or other cross border crimes. The BSF is continuously taking stringent measures to prevent smuggling and illegal infiltration. This successful operation reflects the unwavering commitment of our troops towards border security and the prevention of smuggling," the DIG added.

--IANS

jayanta/pgh