Sylhet, Aug 30 (V7N) — Indian goods are reportedly entering Sylhet through border routes on a regular basis, even as law enforcement agencies continue efforts to curb cross-border smuggling. Amid these efforts, allegations have emerged against Inspector Sajol Kumar Kanu, in-charge of the Lalpur River Police Outpost, that he has allegedly been receiving regular payments, locally known as ‘monthly allowances’, from smugglers in exchange for facilitating their activities.

Local residents allege that, under the alleged arrangement, various smuggled Indian goods are being transported freely by waterways under the cover of darkness. They further claim that, through alleged understandings with certain individuals, consignments worth hundreds of thousands of taka are reaching their destinations without obstruction.

The allegations have drawn renewed attention after a patrol team from the outpost recently conducted an operation without informing the officer-in-charge and seized a major consignment of Indian sarees.

According to sources, at around 11:30pm on Aug 26, 2026, a naval police patrol team conducted a sudden operation on the Surma River in Jamalganj Police Station area. During the operation, the team chased a speedboat near the eastern bank of the river and seized 398 Indian sarees.

The seized sarees are estimated to have a market value of approximately Tk 3.98 lakh.

The police also seized the speedboat allegedly used to transport the smuggled goods. The boat is estimated to be worth around Tk 3 lakh. Two individuals, identified as Zainal Mia and Mozahid Mia, reportedly fled the scene after noticing the presence of the police, according to police sources.

A case against the two absconding suspects is reportedly being initiated at Jamalganj Police Station under the Special Powers Act, 1974, according to relevant sources.

Several local sources have alleged that Sajol Kumar Kanu, the in-charge of the Lalpur River Police Outpost, has a purported ‘monthly payment arrangement’ with a particular group involved in controlling smuggling operations along the waterways. However, these allegations could not be independently verified.

Local residents further allege that, because of the purported arrangement, smugglers have been using waterways at night to transport Indian goods across the border. They also claim that, instead of conducting regular operations, certain members of the smuggling network have allegedly been given preferential treatment.

According to the residents, the Aug 26 operation resulted in the seizure of a major consignment because it was reportedly conducted without informing the officer-in-charge. Local sources also claim that the incident has caused dissatisfaction and resentment within the outpost.

Members of the local civil society have called for an impartial investigation, saying that allegations of this nature must be properly examined if they involve an officer responsible for preventing smuggling along border and waterways.

They have demanded an independent investigation by the relevant higher authorities to establish the veracity of the allegations. They have also called for scrutiny of the officer’s assets and financial transactions, as well as an investigation into any possible links between the officer and organised smuggling networks.

The allegations against Inspector Sajol Kumar Kanu remain unverified, and no independent evidence establishing the alleged payment arrangement was available at the time of publication.

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