Suspected Brown Sugar Recovered at Gorubathan; Woman Arrested, Man Escapes Into Forest

KalimNews, August 18, 2026, Kalimpong: Acting on source information received on the afternoon of August 18, 2026, police personnel set up a naka at Pandara Check Post under Gorubathan Police Station as part of a targeted checking operation.

During the operation, a red-coloured Swift car travelling from the Meenglas side towards Pandara was intercepted for checking. Two occupants were found inside the vehicle—Albert Rai and his wife, Suchana Gurung, both residents of Kumai Factory Line, Kumai Tea Garden, under Jaldhaka Police Station in Kalimpong district. The vehicle also reportedly carried a board bearing the words “On Govt. Duty, A.E.D., G.T.A.”

According to the police, a search of the vehicle led to the recovery of approximately 15 grams of a substance suspected to be brown sugar, described as an intermediate quantity. The recovery prompted the police to initiate the seizure procedure and further action under the relevant legal provisions.

However, during the seizure proceedings, Albert Rai allegedly pushed members of the police party and managed to escape into a nearby forested area. A police team, assisted by forest personnel, immediately conducted a search of the surrounding forest in an effort to locate him, but he could not be found.

Suchana Gurung, who was travelling in the vehicle, has been arrested in connection with the case. Police said that a specific case has subsequently been registered at Gorubathan Police Station and that the arrested woman will be produced before the learned court tomorrow in accordance with legal procedure.

The search for Albert Rai is continuing, with police and forest personnel maintaining efforts to trace and apprehend him.

Kalimpong Police has also expressed its appreciation to the alert citizen who provided the information that led to the checking operation. The police acknowledged that timely information from responsible citizens can play an important role in helping law-enforcement agencies detect suspected illegal activities and take appropriate action.