Majhdia, Jan. 24: In a significant crackdown on smuggling along the Indo-Bangladesh border, the Border Security Force (BSF) on Friday conducted a raid in the Naghata area of Nadia’s Krishnaganj, uncovering three underground bunkers packed with Phensedyl, a banned cough syrup that is widely abused as an addictive substance.
The raid, conducted under the border management protocol, saw the participation of Krishnaganj police. Security personnel were alarmed as the bunkers, camouflaged amidst paddy fields and located barely 2 km from the border, were unearthed. Each bunker, at least 15 feet deep, was reinforced with iron sheets and equipped with metal covers featuring locking mechanisms.
The bunkers, robust and spacious enough to accommodate an adult, were, however, found with stockpiles of bottles of Phensedyl. The BSF began counting the seized bottles, but the tally remained incomplete at the time of this report. An unconfirmed report claimed the total count would exceed fifty thousand with a value of about Rupees one crore.
Confirming the discovery, BSF South Bengal Frontier spokesperson and DIG Nilotpal Kumar Pandey said, “Some bunkers were found in the border areas of Nadia, which are being thoroughly examined.”
A senior BSF official expressed concern over the presence of such sophisticated bunkers, doubting they were constructed solely for storing smuggled goods. “It is suspicious to believe these bunkers were built only to hide Phensedyl. There could be a larger agenda involving subversive activities. A thorough investigation is required, and it’s too early to draw conclusions,” he remarked.
The unearthing of the bunkers comes amid heightened border vigilance following the change in Bangladesh’s political landscape after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government. With tensions escalating, the discovery adds a new dimension to security concerns in the region.
“We are examining all possible angles. The matter will be reported to higher authorities and the state police administration for necessary action,” added a BSF official from Nadia.