The Border Security Force (BSF) has dismissed a constable from service for allegedly facilitating Pakistani smugglers to sneak in contraband like weapons and drugs.
BSF constable Rajendra Prasad was arrested along with two others by the Punjab Police on July 28 from his native place at Sriganganagar in Rajasthan.
“As per the Punjab Police investigation report, Constable Rajendra Prasad of 71 Bn BSF was found guilty on the charge of collusion with smugglers. Subsequently, on August 4, under the zero-tolerance policy, Constable Rajendra Prasad (was) dismissed from the service under the provision of the BSF Act and Rule with effect from August 4,” reads the statement of BSF (Punjab Frontier).
Prasad, posted at a border outpost (BOP) in Chhina village in Taran Tarn district of Punjab, was found to be the part of cross-border drugs and weapons smuggling syndicate busted by the Punjab Police.
The Punjab police had recovered a.30 bore pistol along with five live cartridges and Rs 24.50 lakh in cash from Prasad and two of his accomplices — Surmail Singh and Gurjant Singh.
Punjab Police probe had revealed that Prasad had allegedly helped the syndicate in getting 17 kg of heroin and two foreign-made pistols in May. During questioning by the Punjab police, Prasad’s associates Surmail and Gurjant had revealed that they were working with a cross-border smuggler, Satnam Singh alias Satta, a resident of Taran Tarn district. Satta was closely linked with Pakistan-based smugglers for getting heroin and weapons supplies from across the border to Punjab. The duo had also disclosed that Prasad was also involved in the smuggling racket.