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Shillong, Feb 21:  Border Security Force (BSF) on Thursday arrested four Bangladesh smugglers and one Indian national with 300 Kg of beef from Muktapur area near the Indo-Bangla border in Meghalaya’s West Jaintia Hills district.

A BSF official said the smugglers were arrested while they were transporting the beef in a vehicle to smuggle it to Bangladesh.

“The BSF party challenged and succeeded in nabbing the smugglers with 300 Kg of beef from TATA SPACIO vehicle which was intercepted at Muktapur area,” BSF Spokesperson, U.K.Nayal said.

He said this was the first case of such type detected by BSF where beef was being smuggled to Bangladesh by the smugglers.

During preliminary investigation, Nayal said the Bangladesh smugglers revealed that they had come to meet Indian smugglers for the deal of cattle consignment for smuggling.

“After getting the cattle they found that all cattle were not in condition to be smuggled through the rough and rugged terrain due to being injured. Hence they slaughtered few of the cattle and were transporting beef in the vehicle to smuggle it to Bangladesh,” he said.

Meanwhile, the BSF has stepped up its special drive against the smugglers and has intensified its operations on the Indo-Bangladesh Border to prevent nefarious design of trans-border criminal to maintain tranquility in bordering areas of Meghalaya state.

Nayal said a special drive has been launched by BSF along the Indo-Bangla border to present trans-border crimes.