Kaliachak has always been the entry gate of fake currency in India and the situation has remained constant even after demonetisation, said Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) district secretary Ambar Mitra here on Monday.
"Kaliachak is the corridor through which fake currency enters India. During demonetisation sufficient fake notes of rupees two thousand reached people. Kaliachak became infamous because of this business," said Mitra.
Mitra further stated, "the present state government has completely failed to crack down on this infamous trade which puts many innocent behind bars whereas the main wrongdoers roam around without any fear. Unemployment is also one of the primary reasons."
As per reports, recently on April 19, fake currency amounting to rupees 2.5 lakh was seized in Kolkata from Sahabul Sheikh, 30, a resident of Malda district.
Malda district of West Bengal has been for ages notorious for counterfeit currency. Even NDA government's measure to free India from fake currency through demonetisation in 2016 failed to curb the thriving business.
With Bangladesh border in close proximity and Kolkata within 300 kilometres from the district, slipping off Fake Indian Currency Note (FICN) becomes less time consuming and easy.
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On being asked the route taken by smugglers for transportation of currency, a resident of Malda town, Sushanto Das, said, "Malda has the best connectivity as far as Railway is concerned. One can go to any state be it Mumbai, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Delhi, Gujarat or others."
Official sources told ANI that out of 17 authentic features in a currency note, close to 10 features have been replicated in the FICN meticulously.
However, the sitting MP of Malda South and veteran Congress leader Abu Haseem Khan Choudhury, denied accusations of flourishing counterfeit trade.
"Kaliachak is very close to Bangladesh, earlier it was the passage however now it has slowed down," he said.
West Bengal held polling in the first two phases of Lok Sabha elections and will continue to hold polling in the remaining five phases as well. The counting of votes will begin on May 23.
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