Some interesting facets of this clandestine business have come to light with the arrest of some smugglers in the past who have been identified as Safiqul Islam, Nilu Das and Reaj Uddin engaged in the illegal trafficking in the Nilambazar area of Karimganj district. Their interrogations by police and security forces have thrown interesting light on their modus – operandi. In order to avoid the intricacy of rupee – taka exchange, smugglers have adopted a novel method of barter system. Smuggling from this side of the border is now taking place with the help of fake Indian currency notes.
The Bangladeshi agents in nexus with their Indian counterparts are operating this lucrative business, taking advantage of many a hole in the border management. This network of smuggling of cattle is ever widening. ISI and terrorist groups are providing the necessary leverage. On the trail of fake currency note circulation, intelligence agencies have stumbled upon startling revelations by smugglers. Indian agents have to take the cattle to the pre-arranged destinations in Bangladesh. In exchange of the market price of Rs. 4000 for a cow, Bangladeshi agents pay their Indian counterparts fake currency notes of Rs. 10,000. Even a few months ago, genuine Indian notes for Rs. 60 were paid against forged Rs. 100. The current rate is Rs. 100 fake notes for Rs. 40 genuine currency. The amount to be exchanged is calculated on the basis of the value of cattle.
Borderline residents along the unfenced side are mute witness to this phenomenon since the persons in the shady deals are armed and organized. The movement for smuggling begins after dark through vulnerable points. Against a limited number of weekly cattle markets on the Indian side, there has been a mushrooming of illegal trade centres in Bangladesh, enough indication of its voluminous growth.
Bangladesh, despite the friendly Awami League led government has emerged as a route to push in fake Indian currency notes printed in some important cities of Pakistan as documented by the intelligent agencies.
Supply of the American dollar much in demand in Bangladesh becomes easier through Indian currency because of its higher appreciation in the international market. According to Union Home Ministry, fake currency notes in circulation in the country has touched a staggering figure which is paralysing the economy.
Investigations have revealed subtle distinction between the genuine and fake notes which are in the denomination of Rs. 1000 and Rs. 500.
Unless this racket is tackled with a tough hand, it will wreck the Indian economy, experts opine.
Often acting on specific tips off, the intelligence wing of BSF – Mizoram Frontier recently apprehended an Indian national identified as Hilal Uddin (40) of Ujangaon village under Patharkandi police station in Karimganj district and seized from his possession fake Indian currency notes worth Rs. 33,000, all in Rs. 500 denominations. He was moving with the fake currency notes in an auto rickshaw towards Nilambazar on national highway 44 linking Agartala. He was in fact detained from Baliamore along the Bangladesh border.
His preliminary interrogation revealed that he was to hand over the currency notes to another person to be delivered at Dimapur in Nagaland. The identity of the other person is yet to be ascertained. A BSF source said that further interrogation revealed that these fake notes are used not only for circulation but also for exchange in cattle smuggling.  Hilal Uddin is one of the king pins in the racket of fake Indian currency notes.
It was not long ago that BSF troopers along with customs personnel of Karimganj in a joint operation detained 3 trucks which were carrying 11 cattle heads valued at Rs. 79,000. The three drivers – Surma Ali (20), Sajan Uddin (34) and Satir Ali (20) –on being interrogated said that they were carrying the cattle from Chiragi cattle market in the extreme east of Karimganj district which were to be taken to the Tripura border for delivery on the other side of Bangladesh. The trucks were detained at Chandkhira under Patherkandi police station. This brings out the ever widening network of cattle smuggling and fake Indian currency notes which has become a lucrative business for smugglers on both sides of the border.

Jyoti Lal Chowdhury