West Champaran superintendent of police Nishant Kumar Tewari and his team with the seized notes. Telegraph picture

Bettiah, July 18: The National Narcotic Control Bureau (NNCB), New Delhi, has decided to award Bettiah police for their successful drive against financial offences and seizure of contraband and counterfeit currency notes during 2010-11.

NNCB has asked the inspector-general, Economic Offences Wing, Patna, to recommend the name of the district police for the reward.

The initiatives of West Champaran (Bettiah) superintendent of police (SP) Nishant Kumar Tewari are apparently instrumental in bringing the laurel to the district police. The record seizure of contraband, including 9,641kg of ganja, 93.5kg of charas and fake Indian currency notes worth Rs 7,59,900 in a span of a year helped the cause of the police.

West Champaran district has been split into two district police zones — Bettiah and Bagah. The West Champaran SP is in charge of the Bettiah cops.

Inspector-general of the Economic Offences Wing Praveen Vasistha confirmed the report and said a proposal in this regard would soon be sent to the NNCB.

According to sources, this bordering area has been quite sensitive regarding economic offences and anti-national activities.

The Gujarat police had visited Bettiah last year and sought the assistance of the police in a fake Indian currency racket, the SP point- ed out.

He added that it had led to the seizure of a big haul of counterfeit currency notes in Gujarat.

Speaking about the drives frequently conducted by the district police against economic offenders, Nishant told The Telegraph: “We hold regular meetings with the Sashastra Seema Bal to formulate plans. We also conduct frequent raids at suspected places in the bordering areas.”

A task force has also been constituted for the purpose that include selected station house officers and constables, said Nishant.

He adding that it was a team effort of the police which had brought honour to the district.

The police have also requested the West Champaran district magistrate, Sridhar Chiruvelu, to provide a sophisticated machine for speedy detection of the fake Indian notes, added Nishant.

Talking about co-operation of the Nepal police against anti-India activities, Nishant said issues like border crime and counterfeit currencies with its transit point around Kathmandu airport are also discussed in meetings held every three to four months with the Nepal police.

Nishant added that the Nepal police had seized Indian currencies worth over Rs 30 lakh from Kathmandu airport in 2010.