Deputy Inspector General of Police, Southern Range, Dilip Kumar Dey, along with Karimganj Deputy Commissioner Ambamuthan MP and Superintendent of Police Mayang Kumar on Tuesday visited the underground tunnel unearthed by the BSF and police personnel on the Indo-Bangla border.
It is suspected that the hidden tunnel was used for illegal infiltration and cross-border crimes like smuggling and kidnapping. The 200-metre tunnel was discovered at Balia area under Nilambazar circle.
The tunnel was uncovered during the course of an investigation into the kidnapping of one Dilwar Hossain, a resident of Shilua village under the Nilambazar Police Station. Dilwar, who was abducted on December 28, was released on Friday and the tunnel was subsequently unearthed.
The kidnappers had called Dilwar’s family from a Bangladeshi phone number and demanded a ransom of Rs 5 lakh. When police arrested a suspected miscreant involved in the abduction, his associates in Bangladesh came under pressure and subsequently released Dilwar. So far, three persons, all belonging to Karimganj district, have been arrested in connection with the abduction case.
DIG Dey said that there are many underground hume pipes across the Indo-Bangla border, which are being used by miscreants to sneak in and out of India. He said investigation is under way to identify such tunnels and also to repair the damaged portions of the border fencing. Earlier, the DIG chaired a high-level meeting at the DC’s conference hall and had a long discussion on ways to block the tunnel.
