By TC News Desk
Agartala, 27th March 2025: Tripura police arrested two individuals suspected of involvement in the smuggling of Burmese cigarettes. The accused have been identified as Ruhul Alam, a resident of Barigram in Patharkandi, Assam, and Monindra Reang from Damcherra, North Tripura.
Sub-Divisional Police Officer B. Jurin Puia stated, “On Tuesday night, an Eco vehicle carrying Burmese cigarettes met with an accident in the Rajnagar area. Additional Superintendent of Police Jeremiah Darlong and his team promptly reached the scene and seized 40 cartons of banned Burmese cigarettes from the damaged vehicle. However, no arrests were made at that time.”
Later, a black Alto car passing through the same road raised police suspicion. The vehicle was intercepted, and the two suspects, Ruhul and Monindra, were taken into custody. “They are believed to be connected to the smuggling operation,” Puia added. The accused are currently being interrogated at Dharmanagar police station.
While police officially acknowledged the seizure of 40 cartons, sources claim that 45 cartons were confiscated during the operation. Allegations have surfaced that five cartons went missing, implicating certain police personnel in misconduct. This has led to public outcry, with local residents demanding intervention from higher authorities to address the issue.
The route has reportedly become a hotspot for smuggling narcotics, with accusations of collusion between smugglers and some police officials. “The increasing frequency of such incidents is alarming,” said a concerned resident. “We urge the administration to take stringent measures to curb this menace.”
