Baijnathpur: In a commendable display of vigilance and swift action, the Border Security Force (BSF) personnel at Border Outpost Baijnathpur, 86 Battalion under South Bengal Frontier, successfully apprehended a smuggler attempting to cross the Indian border from Bangladesh with 10 gold biscuits. The weight of the seized gold biscuits was a staggering 11644.75 grams, with an estimated value of over Rs. 69 lakh.
The operation unfolded on Thursday when the Intelligence Branch of BSF alerted the Company Commander of Border Outpost Baijnathpur about a possible gold smuggling attempt in the area. Responding promptly to the information, the Company Commander swiftly organized a Quick Reaction Team (QRT) to intercept any smuggling activity.
Around 11:40 AM, a vigilant jawan on duty noticed suspicious movement near the border fence. He witnessed smugglers on the Bangladesh side tossing goods over the fence into Indian territory. Reacting swiftly, the jawan moved towards the location and confronted the smugglers. Startled by the jawan's approach, the smugglers attempted to flee back into Bangladesh. Simultaneously, a smuggler from India arrived to collect the dropped goods, only to be apprehended by the jawan.
The Company Commander and the Quick Reaction Team arrived at the scene, where a thorough search led to the discovery of two packets containing a total of 10 gold biscuits. The apprehended smuggler was identified as Rayel Mandal, a 25-year-old resident of Baijnathpur village, Nadia district. During questioning, Mandal admitted to receiving the gold biscuits from a contact in Bangladesh and was on his way to deliver them to another individual in India.
The apprehended smuggler, along with the confiscated gold biscuits, was handed over to the customs office in Karimpur for further legal proceedings. A K Arya, DIG and Public Relations Officer of BSF South Bengal Frontier expressed his gratification over the successful operation and urged residents living along the border to report any suspicious activities through the Seema Saathi helpline number 14419 or via WhatsApp messages at 9903472227. Informants providing credible information will be rewarded, and their identity will remain confidential. /BI/
