HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, June 23: The Railway Protection Force (RPF) of Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has apprehended 15 persons and recovered contraband goods worth more than Rs 1.22 crore during the period from June 1 to 15.
The accused were apprehended for alleged involvement in transportation of contraband/smuggled goods during this period. Moreover, RPF of NFR has been regularly conducting drives to control the menace of touts. In recently conducted checks and drives over the zone from June 1 to 15, RPF apprehended five touts and recovered railway tickets worth above Rs. 90 thousand from them.
During January to May, RPF of NFR recovered contraband and smuggled goods worth more than Rs. 16.21 crore and apprehended 217 persons for involvement in smuggling of contraband goods.
Moreover, 119 touts were also apprehended by RPF of NFR and recovered railway tickets worth more than Rs. 21.98 lakh during this period. All the apprehended persons were prosecuted under the relevant section of the Railways Act.
In a recent incident on June 13, RPF and Government Railway Police (GRP) of Guwahati conducted checking in the DN (Donyi Polo Express) at the Guwahati Railway Station. During checking, they apprehended two persons and recovered 89 gms Brown Sugar worth Rs. 17.80 Lakhs from the train. Later, the accused along with the recovered brown sugar were handed over to OC/GRP/Guwahati for necessary legal action.
Moreover, on June 9 the RPF team of Kishanganj and CIB team of New Jalpaiguri jointly conducted a raid and search operation at PRS counter of the Aluabari Road Railway Station. During the raid, the team recovered 21 PRS Tickets, worth around Rs. 55,223 and apprehended one tout in this connection. A case was registered under section 143 of the Railways Act for further course of action.
It may be mentioned here that RPF of NFR are constantly on vigil towards activities related to smuggling and transportation of contraband items at railway stations and trains and unauthorized and illegal procurement of railway tickets.