Benapole, Oct. 14 -- Law and order in the country's largest land port area has reportedly deteriorated as Benapole Port Police Station remains without an officer-in-charge (OC) for the past 25 days.

According to police sources, former OC Russel Mia was transferred on September 19, but no replacement has been appointed since. Sub-Inspector Manik Kumar Saha is currently serving as acting officer-in-charge.

The post of investigation officer has also remained vacant for the past seven years, sources said.

Residents have complained that the absence of a full-time OC has led to a rise in theft, mugging, and fraud incidents across the three unions under the police station.

Being a border area, smuggling and drug trafficking have also reporte...