Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata

Kolkata, Apr 13: The Border Security Force (BSF) thwarted two separate smuggling attempts along the Indo-Bangladesh border in West Bengal’s Nadia and North 24-Parganas districts on Saturday, seizing a country-made single-shot pistol and 22 kg of Ganja.

According to BSF South Bengal Frontier officials, the first incident took place near the Tungi Border Outpost in Nadia district around 5:55 a.m. when jawans from the 32 Battalion noticed a group of five to six individuals moving suspiciously toward the International Border.

“When challenged, the group fled back into Indian territory. Despite a chase, they escaped due to poor visibility and waterlogged terrain,” the BSF said in a statement. A subsequent search of the area led to the discovery of a plastic packet containing a country-made single-shot firearm, believed to be en route to Bangladesh.

A senior BSF officer noted that the timing of the smuggling attempt is concerning, especially with increasing incidents of unrest in Bangladesh. “Even a crude weapon like this can be dangerous in the hands of criminals across the border,” the officer remarked.

In a separate operation later the same day, BSF personnel from the 102 Battalion at Kaijuri (Kalyani) and the 32 Battalion at Horandipur in North 24-Parganas intercepted a consignment of Ganja. Smugglers again took advantage of the darkness and difficult terrain to evade capture, but 22 kilograms of the narcotic were recovered.

The seized contraband — both the firearm and the Ganja — has been handed over to local enforcement agencies for legal proceedings.

BSF officials highlighted that these seizures underscore the importance of constant vigilance along the porous Indo-Bangladesh border, which is often exploited by smuggling networks. Investigations are underway to identify the individuals and networks behind these latest attempts.

“The alertness of our jawans is the key reason such operations are being successfully stopped,” the BSF spokesperson added.