Kolkata, July 17 (IANS) In a major operation, the Border Intelligence Team (BIT) of the 41Bn Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Ranidanga, seized three suspected foreign‑origin diamonds and apprehended two persons along the India–Nepal border on Thursday.

“During a routine check at New Mechi Bridge around 4.25 pm, a Maruti Suzuki WagonR bearing registration number WB‑73L4869, going from India to Nepal, was stopped. There were two people in the car. The baggage of both persons was scanned and physically searched during which three suspected foreign‑origin diamonds were recovered,” a senior SSB official said. The diamonds were inside the bag of one of the occupants.

The two persons have been identified as Purna Kumar Tamang (69) from Lalitpur in Bagmati Province, Kathmandu, Nepal, and Sujit Lohar (31) of South Stationpara, Rathkhola, Bhimaram, Naxalbari, in Darjeeling district of West Bengal. Tamang was the passenger, and Lohar was driving the car.

“During joint interrogation, along with an IB representative, Tamang admitted that the recovered diamonds belonged to him. He stated that he was born in Hong Kong but is a Nepali citizen. He has one expired Nepali passport (No. 3083805) verified by the Nepali Consulate General in Hong Kong and a valid Nepali passport (No. 11614848). He also has Hong Kong’s permanent resident card, which is not proof of citizenship. He further said he came to India from Nepal on June 21, 2026, and stayed in Sikkim,” the official added.

When asked to produce valid bills, invoices, or any documentary evidence to establish lawful acquisition and possession of the recovered diamonds, Tamang was unable to do so.

The two persons, along with the diamonds and the car, have been handed over to the Customs Office in Panitanki for further investigation and legal action.

Investigators are checking Tamang’s antecedents and trying to trace his activities in Sikkim after he crossed into India on June 21. Efforts are also underway to determine where he obtained the three diamonds.

“If necessary, we shall take up the matter with the authorities in Nepal and Hong Kong. We want to know what kind of business he was engaged in and why he was carrying unaccounted diamonds from India into Nepal,” the official said.

The incident comes a day after two residents of Sikkim were apprehended along the India-Nepal border with Rs 9.74 lakh in unaccounted Indian currency. They were travelling in an SUV to Nepal.

–IANS

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