Agartala / Maligaon, Aug 2 (TIWN): Stepping up its drive against smuggling of contraband through railways, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) has detected and recovered 98.5 kg of Ganja at different stations and trains in N. F. Railway in 10 days (from 20th July to 29th July 2018). The approximate value of the seized contraband will be around Rs. 6.27 lakh.

In the first incident, on 23rd July RPF personnel of Dimapur (Lumding Division) recovered an unclaimed bag containing 05 packets Ganja weighing about 19 kgs at platform No. 1. The recovered contraband was handed over to Divisional Custom Preventive Force/Dimapur, Nagaland. The value of the recovered material was about Rs. 95,000/-. (Photo-1)

On the same day, RPF personnel of Lumding (Lumding Division), acting on tip off conducted search on 15903 Down Chandigarh –Dibrugarh Express at Lumding railway station and recovered 5 kgs Ganja. The suspected smugglers, however, managed to escape. The matter was informed to RPF personnel at Guwahati, who carried further joint search operation at Guwahati with Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel. In the course of the operation, 05 (five) women namely - (1) Mahira Bewa, 48 yrs, w/o Lt. Abdul Tab Seikh, Vill- Shajahad Pur, P.S- Barhampur, (2) Mafruza Bewa, 52 yrs, w/o Lt. Yasmin Seikh, Vill- Halpara, P.S-  Barhampur, Barihadpara, (3) Sagar Banu Bewa, 38 yrs, w/o Lt. Alondo Seikh, Vill- Shajahad Pur , P.S- Barhampur, (4) Ajama Khatun, 42 yrs, w/o Lt. Saiful Seikh, Vill-Halpara, P.S- Kamdi and (5) Mumtaj Bibi, 40 yrs, w/o Md. Bani Seikh, Vill- Katapara, P.S- Barhampur, all of Dist- Mursidabad (W.B) were apprehended 20 kgs of Ganja was recovered from their possession. The apprehended women along with the recovered contraband were handed over to GRP, Guwahati. Approximate value of the recovered material is Rs. 1, 65,000/-. (Photo-2 & 3).

In the third incident, acting on specific information on 26th July, RPF personnel of Guwahati conducted a check on 15942 Down Jhajha Express and recovered 21 packets Ganja weighing about 40 kgs, which was kept concealed inside toilet of coach No.S-8. The recovered material was handed over to Narcotics Control Bureau, Guwahati. Approximate value of the recovered material is Rs. 2, 80,000/-. (Photo -4).

In another incident, RPF personnel of Agartala during a check at Agartala Railway station on 28th July, spotted one unclaimed bag containing 14.5 kgs Ganja wrapped in 07 packets. The recovered Ganja was handed over to Excise Department, Agartala, and the approximate value of recovered contraband is Rs.87, 000/-