NEW DELHI, July 10: The Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) arrested two men near the China border in Eastern Ladakh for allegedly smuggling 108 kg of gold biscuits from China.
While smuggling of smaller items was common, it was the first time ever that an alleged gold smuggling racket was exposed in the area with the arrest of two locals. Another person has been detained, an ITBP official said on Wednesday.
The accused were intercepted on Tuesday by an ITBP team that was out on a Long Range Patrolling in the border areas in Southern Sub Sector (SSS) in Eastern Ladakh to check infiltration and smuggling amid specific inputs of smuggling in the area near Sirigaple, Ladakh.
An operation codenamed Jazba was launched on July 7 and 8 from either directions of the SSS, which is a defined border and not unmarked as in other areas of Eastern Ladakh along Line of Actual Control (LAC) where Indian and Chinese troops are in a stand-off since May 2020.
A team headed by Deputy Commandant Deepak Bhatt intercepted two persons with mules within one-kilometre of China border in the SSS comprising general area Chismule, Narbula Top, Zakle and Zakla.
“On being stopped, the suspects tried to run away but the patrol party chased them and reached the area where they had pitched tents. Initially the suspects said they are collecting medicinal plants but later patrol party found huge quantity of gold and other items,” said Clay Khongsai, Inspector General, ITBP. He added that this was the largest haul of gold ever by ITBP.
The suspects were identified as Tsering Chamba (69) and Tenzin Targy (40), residents of Hanle. ITBP recovered a binocular, Chinese food items such as cake, milk, knives, mobile phones, two ponies other than 108 pieces of gold biscuits weighing 1 kg each with “Gulf Gold Refinery” embossed on them from the suspects.
Joint interrogation of the suspects will be carried out by Police, Intelligence Bureau, Customs and ITBP. The seizure along with the suspects have been handed over to Custom department officers for further questioning and necessary action.
(Manas Dasgupta)
