Pic: 58kg of narcotic seized at Ballari station alone in past 3 monthsBallari: Railway police in Ballari have disclosed that passenger trains coming into Karnataka from other states, particularly West Bengal, are increasingly being used for smuggling ganja into Karnataka.Over the past three months, RPF have confiscated 58 kg of ganja at Ballari railway station alone. Interestingly, all ganja packets confiscated at Ballari station were found on 18111 Shalimar-Yeshwanthpur Express, travelling from West Bengal to Karnataka. During inspection, assault weapons were also recovered, Siddalingappa, the post commander of Railway Protection Force (RPF), said He added that ganja was being distributed at multiple locations along the route, including Guntkal, Ballari, Dharwad, Belagavi and Bengaluru. With this revelation, RPF has heightened vigilance, the officer said. According to RPF, during raids on passenger trains, packed boxes containing ganja have frequently been found.With RPF keeping a hawk eye on trains entering Karnataka, peddlers are often unloading the consignments at Guntakal in Andhra Pradesh and subsequently transporting those by road to Karnataka. To avoid detection, ganja packets are concealed in thin plastic packs and bags meant for packing clothing and other items and stashed in train toilets. “Ganja packets are hidden under train seats, in bags bearing labels for food items, and even in packages bearing the names of govt or police departments,” RPF further said.
