Guwahati, Nov 16 (NationPress) The Railway Protection Force (RPF) under the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) is intensifying its efforts to safeguard the interests of railway passengers and assets, officials reported this Sunday.

According to the Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of NFR, Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, during the month of October, RPF personnel apprehended 37 individuals involved in the illegal smuggling of narcotics and contraband goods valued at around Rs 9.41 crore.

On November 13, the RPF at New Cooch Behar in North Bengal seized 37.1 kg of unclaimed dry ganja (marijuana) estimated to be worth Rs 3.71 lakhs at the New Cooch Behar railway station.

The confiscated materials were subsequently handed over to the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of the Government Railway Police (GRP) in New Cooch Behar for appropriate legal measures.

On the same day, collaborative efforts by RPF and GRP units in Agartala and Lumding led to the recovery of 23.61 kg of ganja valued at Rs 2.36 lakh at the respective railway stations.

The seized goods were transferred to the respective OCs of GRP for necessary actions. Additionally, on November 12, RPF teams from Dharmanagar (Tripura), Agartala, and Rangapara North (in Assam’s Sonitpur district) seized a total of 50.51 kg of ganja worth Rs 5.05 lakh across these locations.

These recovered items were also handed over to their respective OCs of GRP for required action.

The NFR appreciates the relentless dedication of RPF personnel stationed at various posts and their effective collaboration with GRP and Customs authorities, reinforcing safety across railway premises and combating illicit activities, as highlighted by officials.

In parallel efforts aimed at safeguarding vulnerable passengers and fighting against human trafficking, RPF of NFR has successfully rescued numerous minors, including girls, on a regular basis.

The NFR extends its operations throughout the Northeastern states, covering seven districts of West Bengal and five districts of northern Bihar.