Siliguri: A BSF inspector was arrested by Darjeeling cops for allegedly smuggling brown sugar worth crores of rupees from Bihar to Siliguri, during a naka check at Phansidewa on Sunday. The accused was identified as Alok Kumar Ravikar, a resident of Gurabazar in Bihar’s Katihar district of Bihar. He is posted in Chhattisgarh.Police officials said Ravikar was earlier posted in the region in 2017–2018 and was familiar with local routes.Acting on a tip-off that a blue vehicle carrying contraband was heading towards Siliguri, police intensified checking at the Muraliganj check post. During the search of the vehicle, officers initially recovered a few bottles of liquor. A more thorough inspection led to more than 3 kg of brown sugar hidden inside the seat of the vehicle.Darjeeling SP Pratiksha Jharkhariya said, “Initially, we were unaware that the accused was a BSF official. However, upon verification of the documents found in his possession, including his official identity card, we confirmed his identity.”“He was posted here in 2017–2018 and is now serving in Chhattisgarh. Since he served in this region before, he was well aware of the routes. A case under the NDPS Act was initiated. The accused will be produced before a court on Monday. An investigation was initiated to uncover further links and determine whether a larger network is involved,” Jharkhariya added.
