Pakistani Drug Trafficker Nabbed in Tripura
Agartala, Oct 12: The Government Railway Police (GRP) at Sabroom Railway Station in Tripura arrested a Pakistani woman involved in drug trafficking on the evening of October 9 around 8:30 PM.
The woman had recently escaped from a Nepalese prison during the recent political upheaval there.
The arrest has unveiled a possible network of international criminals using Tripura as a transit point.
The accused had arrived at Sabroom by the Kanchanjunga Express from Siliguri and initially introduced herself as Saheena Parveen, claiming to be a resident of Purani Basti in Delhi. However, her failure to produce any valid identity documents immediately raised suspicion among the police.
Upon conducting a thorough search, GRP personnel discovered several Pakistani contact numbers written on small paper slips and concealed around her waist — suggesting potential connections to a cross-border crime network.
During preliminary questioning, the woman confessed to being a Pakistani national hailing from Punjab province. She revealed that she had entered Bangladesh three years ago and later infiltrated India through West Bengal with the assistance of an agent.
She also claimed to have worked as a domestic helper in Delhi and was allegedly attempting to return to Pakistan via Bangladesh as instructed by her handler.
After prolonged interrogation, the woman disclosed her real identity as Louis Nighat Akhtar Bhano, wife of Md. Golaf Faraj, a resident of Village Younganabad, Chak No. 371, District Sheikhupura, Pakistan.
Investigators later confirmed that Bhano has a long criminal history associated with drug trafficking operations.
According to reports, Bhano had previously entered Nepal around twelve years ago using a valid passport for narcotics-related activities.
In 2014, she was caught in Kathmandu with one kilogram of brown sugar and sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment.
She allegedly escaped from custody last month when the country was facing political and administrative chaos, making her a high-profile fugitive across South Asia.
Investigations indicate that Bhano entered India roughly 15 to 16 days ago. Acting on instructions from her handlers, she first attempted to cross into Bangladesh through West Bengal but failed due to heightened vigilance.
Subsequently, she traveled eastward and reached Sabroom, the southernmost point of Tripura, intending to use the Indo-Bangladesh border as her escape route back to Pakistan.
Security agencies are now scrutinizing her phone contacts and communications to trace any links with larger transnational criminal networks that might be operating across South Asia.
The GRP in Sabroom is working in close coordination with state and central intelligence units to unravel the full extent of Bhano’s activities and associates.
Authorities have urged citizens, especially those residing near border regions, to remain alert and report any suspicious movement. Security has been intensified along sensitive stretches to prevent further illegal crossings or smuggling attempts.
“This arrest is a reminder of how crucial constant surveillance is along international borders,” a senior Tripura Police officer stated. “We are thoroughly investigating her network to ensure there is no lingering threat to national security.”
