In continuation of crackdown operations following the violent attack on BSF personnel along the India-Bangladesh border in Sepahijala district and arrested 21 accused persons involved in the violent attacks on BSF personnel on November 2 last Ashabari-Rahimpur border belt of Boxanagar, a joint team of the Border Security Force (BSF), police and customs officials again on Monday conducted a major raid at Boxanagar market, seizing a large quantity of goods allegedly stored without valid documents.
The action comes in the wake of the recent attack on BSF personnel at Ashabari, following which security agencies have intensified checks in the surrounding areas, including Boxanagar market of the district.
During the operation, the joint team searched several warehouses belonging to local traders and recovered various items, including sarees, clothes, rice, fuska materials, mehendi and other grocery items.
Officials reportedly asked the owners to produce valid documents, including GST bills, for the stored goods. As several traders failed to provide proper documents for the items, the allegedly illegal stock was seized and taken to the Boxanagar Border Outpost (BOP) for further verification.
The seized goods are estimated to have a market value of around Rs 50 lakh, sources said. Further action will be taken after completion of the investigation.
It may be recalled here that with the latest arrests of two prime accused on Saturday, the total number of persons apprehended in connection with the November 2 incident has risen to 21, including four women. Police said intensive search operations are continuing to trace the remaining accused using electronic evidence, CCTV footage and intelligence inputs.
The two key accused, Rabiul Hossain and Mahabul Hossain, were detained by the BSF on Saturday and later handed over to Kalamchowra police station. According to investigators, video footage shows Rabiul snatching a Border Security Force jawan's service rifle during the attack, while Mahabul was seen assaulting BSF personnel with a stick.
Police had earlier arrested Hasina Khatun, the mother of Rabiul Hossain, for her role in the incident. Police said that she attacked a BSF jawan with a stick during the rifle-snatching episode, causing a serious head injury. She was produced before the Sonamura court on Saturday and remanded to seven days of police custody.
Seven of the ten persons initially arrested in the case were also produced before the Sonamura court on Saturday, which remanded the seven male accused to another seven days of police custody. The three women arrested earlier remain in judicial custody and are scheduled to be produced before the court again on November 13.