SAPTARI: Chinese apples are being smuggled into India, via Bihar’s Kunauli bazaar located on Indo-Nepal border, appar­ently in collusion with the police and customs officers. The smuggling came to light after the Saptari District Police Office in eastern Nepal mount­ed a raid on the house of one Binod Raya, where the apples were being stored. The police team led by Inspector Heman­ta Bhandari seized 78 cartoons of apples and a bicycle used for smuggling.

 

The police admit that such smuggling of apples has been taking place for a long time. They said they learnt about Raya’s house after they caught four people red-hand­ed in no-man’s land as they were trying to smuggle apples. Those arrested have admitted to receiving Rs 20 for each cartoon smuggled across the border.

 

The law prohibits the export of Chinese apples via Nepal. According to the police, a criminal group of Indian nationals purchase apples in Nepal during the day, store them in border areas and smuggle them using bicycles in the thick of night.

 

By MANOHAR POKHAREL