In the fight against the menace of trans-border smuggling in Tripura, BSF continuously conducts “Special operations” to neutralise the ill designs of trans-border smuggling on the India-Bangladesh international border.

BSF sources said that in the series of operations, on Saturday, based on specific BSF input an ambush was laid by BSF troops in the area of Nischintpur border out post (BOP) by jawans of 42^nd battalion of BSF. Ambush party observed movement of two suspects in between international boundary and border fence. The movement of suspects was kept under surveillance by BSF troops deployed on the border observation post. Suspects moving from Bangladesh side to Indian side negotiated the border fence and entered the nearby forest area, but alert BSF ambush party successfully apprehended one suspect. However, another suspect managed to escape towards the Indian village Nischintpur taking advantage of dense vegetation.

BSF added that on spot questioning the apprehended person revealed his identity as Prashant Rai (36) of village - Kishmat kuri under Amtali police station of West Tripura district. Frisking of the apprehended person was carried out in presence of independent witnesses and 4 numbers of Yellow colour metal biscuits approximately weight 466 grams suspected to be gold (appx value Rs 36.6 lakh) recovered from his possession.

Apprehended person accepted his involvement in trans-border smuggling of gold and revealed that the consignment was handed over to him by one Bangladeshi smuggler namely Iqbal of Brahmanbaria, Bangladesh. Massive search operation being carried out by BSF in the border area to nab the culprit who escaped from the spot, said BSF and added that further investigation is going on.