Why do smugglers opt to travel by Rajdhani Express?

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, March 28: Travel by Rajdhani Express costs one a pretty penny! Does it have anything to do with smuggling? It sounds a riddle, wrapped in a mystery.

Of late, smuggled goods – right from marijua, gecko to gold — are seen seized, as often as not, from the Rajdhani Express. What makes smugglers opt to this costly train to transship their consignments? Is that the high cost of the travel adds some sort of dignity to the traveler, regardless of who he/she actually is? This is a common seen that people often stand on their dignity, and that, as often as not, dissuade police and other personnel from being rough and tough against them. Nothing can be said with certainty unless concrete evidences are obtained. This, indeed, is a matter that needs a thorough alysis.

As many as 27 pieces of gold biscuits weighting 4.5 kg was seized from two persons travelling by Down Rajdhani Express from Platform No. 1 and coach No. B-10 today. Both the persons – Ashok Sharma (19) and Bhagirath Prajapati (33) – are from Rajasthan. The two confessed before GRP personnel that after their halt at a hotel at Paltan Bazar in the city last night they boarded the train today when they were handed over the consignment by a person for its transshipment to New Jalpaiguri.  They, however, failed to give the whereabouts of the person who had handed them over the gold biscuits. The GRP is in contact with the Customs officials.

On the same train in coach No. B-22, the GRP recovered seven kg opium. They, however, failed to arrest anyone in that connection as yet.