Sonamura, Oct 16: Sonamura police have arrested two individuals in connection with the recent kidnapping and murder of Md. Suleiman Hossain Laskar, a resident of NC Nagar. The incident is believed to be tied to an illegal gold smuggling racket operating in the border region.
The accused—Md. Sohag Khandakar alias Sagar Mia (21) of Aralia Uttarpara, Sonamura, and Nabi Hossain (31) of Fakira Dhula, NC Nagar—were apprehended from a hideout in Fakirdol, NC Nagar, late Wednesday night based on specific intelligence inputs.
According to police, both individuals had been absconding since the crime and were tracked down by a special investigation team. During the arrest, officers seized a white private vehicle (registration number TR-01CF-0626) and two smartphones from the suspects. The devices, believed to contain vital clues, are now undergoing forensic examination.
OC of Sonamura Police Station confirmed that both accused have a criminal background and were previously arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
“They are part of a broader network involved in illegal gold trade across the border. Their interrogation has already revealed key leads, and we are working in coordination with the BSF and central intelligence agencies. More arrests are likely in the coming days,” the OC stated.
Sources said that the murder of Suleiman Laskar may have been a fallout of a dispute within the smuggling network. Police are also probing financial links and cross-border connections.
The arrested duo was produced before the court on Thursday, where police sought custody for further interrogation. The case has sparked concern over the growing influence of illegal gold and drug trade in the border areas of Tripura.
