MUJAFFAR NAGAR (Damchara, North Tripura), July 17 (TIWN): Mizoram-Tripura border Longai River bridge has become a favorite drug smuggling route as international gangs are operating over it in broad day light. Police and BSF authorities managed to arrest three more smugglers from Damchara area when they were passing through Longai river bridge on Sunday with ‘brown sugar’ consignments. TIWN North Tripura correspondent was informed by authorities that Damchara PS O/C Kiran Shankar Chowdhury alongwith 2nd O/C Harendra Debbarma nabbed 3 Mizos at Mujaffar Nagar area (Under Damchara). The 3 smugglers have been identified as : 1) Jaliana Reang, S/O- Lalbuthanga Reang, resident of New Eden, Mamit Jila at Mizoram, 2) Bhanlal Bhoana, S/O– Lalthan Fuia Reang (from same address of Jaliana Reang), 3) Nabinjoy Reang, S/O- Udaram Reang, Resident of Bahadur Basti, Khedachara. FIR has been lodged against them with the case number 27/2016 / Under Section 22 of NDPS Act. 3 of them are produced before the court on Sunday. Police also recovered 124 gram of brown sugar worth 5 lakhs. It’s worthy to mention here that the Northern part of Tripura is turning as den for terrorists, smugglers from Mizoram, and especially the whole Damchara (Khanmun) area has become the hub for Banagldeshis, Mizoramis, Bru Terrorists due to lack of Police/ BSF check-post in Tripura-Mizoram-Bangladesh border region.

Bridge over Longai River at Damchara via which Mizos are entering inside Tripura as no inner state permit card is asked from Mizoram residents before entering Tripura. As a result via Longai river bridge at Damchara, illegal arms, narcotics, equipments are being transported in broad-day light into Tripura.

On Sunday with the initiative of Police at Damchara 3 could be arrested. Question arises, when the inner line-permit-card will be asked from Mizoram citizens to enter before Tripura ?

Longai River bridge is acting as the prime routefor all kind of illegal activities by smugglers & terrorist elements. For Tripura residents, at least 3 Northeastern States ask for inner line permits in border check posts, but unfortunately Tripura although many times were attacked by Mizo, Bru terrorists but no steps were taken by the state Govt to establish checkposts at Damchara or starting inner-line permit for  Mizos.

For heroin,brown sugar smuggling, North Tripura has become a favorite corridor . In last alone, many smugglers are nabbed by police, BSF but the number of captures are very less compared to massive smuggling network.

Due to lack of vigil in check-posts and borders and misuse of train-service in North Tripura has almost become the corridor for all kinds of illegal businesses. Reportedly, in last 1 week at least 4 smugglers are arrested for drug business.

1 kilo and 365 gram of Brown Sugar (worth 1.25 crores) which was recovered from Silchar-Agartala train in a successive attempt by  BSF 159th btn on July 7 had shocked the public as the business was done via Assam-Agartala train.Reportedly, the Silchar-Agartala train bearing number : 05665 had brought huge number of drags from Assam. BSF 159th Btn headed by BSF Commandant Kuljit Singh getting informed by secret source recovered the Brwon Sugar was placed within train.

On July 8, 4 culprits from Mizoram-Silchar border, in allegation of sending drugs to Tripura & other Northeastern states. The name of the 4 arrestees are : 1) Amanyaual (23), 2) Richard Lalbe Moughta (24), 3) Laldin Jera (24), 4) Mingchung Nanga (27). They were nabbed from BhajaBazar, Silchar Mizoram Border areas. Allegedly this four young boys are engaged in sending drugs via a train to Tripura. They are now suffering 14 days Jail custody.

After this there was no respite from narcotics smuggling business.

Another Rinku Nath (35) is sent to JC, after Panisagar Police booked him, just after one day of the nabbing of 4 smugglers at Shillong.

This practice of rampant smuggling, has opened the scope for all kinds of illegal items’ intrusion into state. Phensedyl and Corex, Arms all are supplied now a days via trains.

On June 12 another 400 gram of brown sugar was seized from a bus by 159th battalion BSF Dharmanagar ISBT area. The bus was travelling from Dharmanagar to Agartala. Reportedly, Brown sugar worth Rs. 30 lakhs was being shipped into the Capital City Agartala.

Then, on June 20, 30th Assam Rifles Btln, under P S Damchara at Dhalai Dist.has booked 2 person red-handed while circulating fake notes worths 1 lakh.

However, Tripura’s Home Minister cum Chief Minister is keeping his eyes closed for now as State continue to flood with drugs, illegal arms.

Till date, Mizoram-Tripura border lacks any check posts, miles and miles border areas remained unfenced even after the 23 years of rule of the CPI-M Govt.