Rs 18 L cash against gold tran

Crime

Rs 18 L cash against gold transfer: Handler jumps from running train

A gold smuggler's syndicate operating in Kolkata was transferring hefty gold to Bihar, which was unearthed after a handler was arrested by the RPF in Burdwan today.

The Crime Intelligence Branch of the Railway Protection Force intercepted one handler of smuggled gold and recovered Rs 18 Lakh in cash from his possession after he braved getting down from a running Down train at the Burdwan Junction Railway Station today.

Shankar Kotal - the handler is a resident of Khanakul in Hooghly. As he confessed to the CIB of RPF, Rajat Ranjan, he was carrying the cash from a gold receiver stationed in Patna. Ranjan said: "The person wearing a backpack loaded with hefty cash got down from the running Down Akaltakht Express at 3:15 pm, as the train didn't have a scheduled stoppage here in Burdwan."

His such a risky bid and immediate attempts to flee the platforms attracted the notice of the on-duty RPF's Head Constable Indrajit Adhikari and no sooner he booked him. While searching his backpack, the Constable was shocked seeing 36 bundles of Rs 50,000 each in Rs 500 denomination loaded inside. Shankar was immediately handed over to the Crime Intelligence Branch.

The CIB, as Ranjan said: "The person initially failed to give proper explanation about the hefty cash in possession and then, during interrogation, we gathered some needful tips that the handler was assigned by a gold racket operating at Sinthi Morh in Kolkata to transfer gold from their custody to Patna." He further added that Shankar was engaged by one Rajesh Kotal - the kingpin of the Sinthi Morh syndicate.