GUWAHATI: The Special Task Force (STF) of Commercial Department of NF Railway has tasted another success on Friday night when the team detected a huge quantity of contraband foreign cigarettes (11,960 packets) worth approximately Rs 12 Lakh while being loaded on Tripura Sundari Express at Lumding railway station. This is the second major success of the Task Force within one month of its formation. Acting on specific information, the STF team led by Asst. Commercial Manager DJ Barman, conducted search in the train. Commercial Department had for the first time in NF Railway formed the Special Task Force (STF) on August 13, 2019 as a part of a special initiative for clean and transparent working.
It may be mentioned that the STF had recovered foreign-made cigarettes worth Rs. 5.5 lakh while being transported illegally in 15646 Guwahati – Lokmanya Tilak Terminas Express at Guwahati Railway station on August 18. On that occasion, the team apprehended five persons for trying to transport the goods with false declaration in the Parcel Way Bill, stated a release.
The STF team not only checks ticketless travel, activities of touts and false declaration of goods being transported but also keeps close vigil on child abuse and human trafficking in railway premises. The team will also sensitize the frontline railway staff in dealing with passengers and ensure proper payment by contractors of Commercial Department to their staff.