By TC News Desk
Agartala, January 18: The police of Irani police station seized five sacks of sugar and a vehicle that were being smuggled across the India-Bangladesh international border on Wednesday evening. However, they faced resistance from some women of the village, who surrounded the police and demanded the release of the sugar and the vehicle. The police had to call for reinforcements from the Tripura State Rifles (TSR) to disperse the protesters and bring the seized items to the police station.
According to the police, they were conducting a routine vehicle check at the Swiss Gate area of Latiapura village, which is near the international border, when they spotted an auto rickshaw bearing the registration number TR 02 C 2416. The auto rickshaw had come from Tilabazar area and was heading towards Latiapura village. The police asked the driver to stop, but he sped up the auto rickshaw. The police became suspicious and chased the auto rickshaw. The driver abandoned the auto rickshaw near the border and fled. The police found five sacks of sugar inside the auto rickshaw, which were meant to be smuggled to Bangladesh.
As the police were about to take the sugar and the auto rickshaw to the police station, they were confronted by some women of the village, who claimed that the sugar belonged to them. They said that they had bought the sugar from a local shop and they had hired the auto rickshaw to transport it to their homes. They accused the police of harassing them and trying to take away their sugar. They also alleged that some smugglers were behind the protest and they were instigating the women to create trouble for the police.
The police tried to explain to the women that the sugar was illegal and that they had evidence to prove it. They also said that the auto rickshaw driver was a known smuggler and that he had escaped from the scene. However, the women refused to listen to the police and continued to protest. They blocked the road and prevented the police from moving the sugar and the auto rickshaw. The police had to call for backup from the TSR, who arrived at the spot and dispersed the protesters. The police then took the sugar and the auto rickshaw to the Irani police station. The police have registered a suo moto case against the smugglers and the protesters. They have also launched a search operation to nab the absconding driver and the other smugglers involved in the racket. They have said that they will not tolerate any illegal activities in the border area and that they will take strict action against anyone who tries to obstruct their duty. They have also appealed to the people of the village to cooperate with the police and not to fall prey to the smugglers’ propaganda
