Coal laden trucks seized in Bangla border

SHILLONG, APR 18: The BSF deployed in Kanai in South Garo hills district seized four coal laden trucks on international border on April 13 and 14  at night and foiled the attempt to smuggle the coal from India to Bangladesh.

In a daring move the smugglers had broken the lock of Indo-Bangladesh border fence gate with the intention of smuggling the coal through the gate.

BSF personnel posted in the Kanai border outpost noticed the movement of the coal smugglers near the Indo-Bangladesh border fence as they were trying to smuggle coal from India to Bangladesh. As soon as the BSF night domination party rushed to the spot it was found that some Bangladeshi nationals had also intruded into Indian territory to help the Indian smugglers, who had managed to break the fence gate and taken four coal-laden trucks.

When the BSF troops challenged the smugglers, the Bangladeshi nationals and the drivers of the four truck fled away towards Bangladesh side taking advantage of darkness leaving the coal laden trucks behind. The BSF seized all the four trucks loaded with coal.

BSF official informed that out of the four trucks, one truck bearing registration number  ML 09A 6728 is of Meghalaya and the other three trucks bearing No. AS 01EC 0612, AS 18C 5070 and AS 01 EC 2043 were from Assam.

Ownership of the trucks could not be ascertained as all the drivers had fled away. But the BSF official informed that the police is investigating into the case to established the ownership of the four trucks.

BSF said the attempt of the smugglers to smuggle coal in such a huge quantity is probably the first in Kanai area. He said this might be because the BSF has heightened vigil on known routes for coal transportation that is Baghmara, Bagli, Barsora etc.

BSF official said the smugglers have been attempting to exploit other difficult routes to smuggle coal after the NGT ban on coal mining in Meghalaya. He informed that BSF have a kept with a special surveillance equipments including Night Vision Goggles (NVG), monocular, Hand Held Thermal imagers (HHTI)  for effective surveillance during night.

The official reiterated that the BSF is determined to foiled any attempt of the smugglers and other anti national elements from carrying out nefarious activities in the international border.

An FIR has been lodged with Rongra police station. The BSF has also approached Border Guard Bangladesh to enhance its surveillance to curb the smuggling activities of Bangladeshi nationals in Indian territory.

The BSF is planning to have more coordinated patrolling with the BGB in those areas where such attempts are possible, especially in the difficult terrain of Garo hills districts.- By Our Reporter