Kolkata, Oct 28: The Border Security Force (BSF) foiled a major gold smuggling attempt across the Indo-Bangladesh Border by arresting a smuggler and seizing gold worth more than Rs 2.45 crore from him in the North 24-Parganas district of West Bengal.

A senior BSF official stated that troops of the 145 Bn BSF, South Bengal Frontier, posted at the Integrated Check Post (ICP) in Petrapole received intelligence inputs indicating an attempt to smuggle gold from Bangladesh into India and were maintaining a close watch on the movement.

“A BSF vehicle checking party intercepted an inbound empty truck entering India from Benapole, Bangladesh. A search of the vehicle led to the seizure of two green packets that contained eight gold pieces,” he said.

The official stated that the packets contained six gold bars and two biscuits, with a total weight of 1,974.540 grams of gold.

“The gold was valued at nearly Rs 2,45,79,073.90. During questioning, the driver of the vehicle confessed that he had agreed to transport the consignment across the border in his truck for money,” he said.

He further pointed out that the smuggler, along with his truck and the gold, has been handed over to the concerned authorities for further legal action.

The official said that the BSF continues its unwavering commitment to preventing cross-border crimes along the India-Bangladesh border.

“This operation once again underscores the alertness and operational excellence of BSF troops deployed at ICP Petrapole. We have strengthened our intelligence network, and there is complete coordination between all branches, hence the successes,” he added.

The official said that the BSF’s South Bengal Frontier has made a series of gold seizures over the last few weeks, adding that several smugglers have been apprehended and vital information gathered regarding the networks operating along the border.

“While applauding the effort of the troops, the official said that they remain committed to protecting the border and stopping all kinds of smuggling,” he said.

He urged residents of border areas once again to report any information regarding gold smuggling or other unlawful activities to the Seema Sathi Helpline Number 14419.

They can also send text or voice messages to the WhatsApp number 9903472227. Those providing credible information would be suitably rewarded and their identity would be kept confidential, he said.

New Delhi, Oct 28: The Supreme Court on Monday granted bail to a man convicted of killing his father, noting that he has already served nearly five years of his 10-year sentence awarded by the Chhattisgarh High Court.

A Bench of Justices Manoj Misra and Ujjal Bhuyan passed the order while hearing the petitioner’s special leave petition (SLP) challenging his conviction.

“Having regard to the facts of the case and the period of sentence already undergone, we deem it appropriate to suspend the sentence awarded by the High Court during the pendency of this appeal,” the apex court observed.

The case arose from an incident in which the appellant – Vijay Thakur– allegedly assaulted his father with a wooden stick, leading to his death. The trial court had convicted him under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

However, the Chhattisgarh High Court, in its judgment passed in April last year, modified the conviction to one under Section 304 Part-I IPC, reducing the sentence to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment.

Appearing for the petitioner, senior advocate Sonia Mathur argued that the accused had already served almost four years and eleven months of his sentence and sought suspension of the remaining period pending appeal.

“It is submitted that by now the appellant has already served almost 5 years (4 years 11 months) of the sentence. In such circumstances, it has been prayed that the sentence awarded to the appellant be suspended and the appellant be released on bail during the pendency of the appeal,” the order recorded.

Granting relief, the Justice Misra-led Bench directed that the appellant be released on bail “on such terms and conditions as the trial court may deem fit to impose in the facts and circumstances of the case.”

The apex court also noted that despite its earlier order, directing the lower courts to submit the case records, “as per the Office Report, records are still awaited.”

Thane, October 28: Residents of Savarkar Nagar in Thane were left alarmed on Tuesday morning after spotting a massive 8-foot python in a roadside drain near a local college. The sighting caused panic in the area as passersby gathered to confirm the unusual discovery.

The Thane Municipal Corporation’s (TMC) disaster management cell received a distress call around 11:32 am from a local resident of Maratha Galli. Acting swiftly, a disaster management staff member, a firefighter, and a pickup vehicle were dispatched to the location. Members of the Wildlife Welfare Association (WWA) from Konkani Pada also joined the rescue operation.

Upon arrival, the joint team located the python inside the roadside drain. Despite the size of the reptile, the rescue team handled the situation with care and ensured the safety of both the animal and onlookers.

After being safely extracted, the python was handed over to the Wildlife Welfare Association for medical observation and rehabilitation. According to TMC disaster management cell chief Yasin Tadvi, the rescue was completed without any injuries or harm.

This incident has once again highlighted the growing instances of wild animals straying into urban areas of Thane and Mumbai. Experts attribute such occurrences to shrinking natural habitats and encroachment near forest zones.