Hindustan Times BSF finds 82 drivers with fake licences plying trucks across Indo-Bangla border : courtesy (HT)
In a surprise check at Petrapole Integrated Check Post (ICP)
in West Bengal, the largest land port at the Indo-Bangladesh border, the Border
Security Force (BSF) in the last two days has found that at least 82 truck
drivers were using fake driving licences to ply trucks to and from Bangladesh,
a trend which has major security implications.
The Customs and Land Port Authority of India have been
informed that drivers operating on fake licences cannot be allowed and a police
case is being registered by the force to investigate the larger conspiracy.
The border guarding force had received inputs that a few
drivers were involved in trans-border crimes such as smuggling of gold, silver,
phensedyl syrup, drugs etc, while engaged in export and import of goods between
India and Bangladesh, following which surprise checks were carried out at the
Petrapole ICP on January 16 and 17.
While checking the authenticity of drivers’ licences, it
found 52 fake licences on the first day and then 30 such fake licences in 30
more trucks the next day.BSF spokesperson Krishna Rao said all 82 fake driving
licences have been handed over to the Customs. “The concerned authorities of
Customs and Land Port Authority of India were conveyed that BSF cannot allow
those trucks to go to Bangladesh whose drivers are found in the possession of a
fake driving licence,” he said.
He further said – “No driver with a fake driving licence can
be allowed to ply trucks to Bangladesh at any cost because such drivers obtain
fake Car Passes from the Customs Department on the basis of driving licences
upon which BSF allows the trucks to enter Bangladesh.”
To ensure smooth running of trade between India and
Bangladesh, BSF has also informed Bangaon Transport Association across the
border to follow the Standing Operating Procedures (SOPs) so that the security
and interests of the nations are not compromised.
Petrapole ICP is the largest land port in South Asia,
located along the international border between India and Bangladesh, at a
distance of about 80 km from Kolkata. Petrapole (India)-Benapole (Bangladesh)
is an important land border crossing for both the countries in terms of trade
and passenger movement and nearly 30 per cent of land-based trade between India
and Bangladesh takes place through here.Since it was operationalised in
February 2016, the Petrapole ICP has witnessed an increasing number of
passenger movement with an average of 22 lakh people crossing the border post
on either side each year.
Detailing the reasons why the BSF has decided to beef up
security at Petrapole, a BSF spokesperson said the force seized smuggled gold
worth around ₹1,44,22,356 from a transporter while he was trying to escape on a
bike on January 4.
The gold was smuggled from Bangladesh by concealing it
inside an import bound truck.
Similarly, on July 19 last year, gold worth ₹1.71 crore was
seized from an Indian driver coming from Bangladesh.
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