Shillong, March 3 : The cattle smuggler once again continuing their attempts to smuggle cattle from India to Bangladesh failed to do so in Meghalaya as the sentinels of Border once again foiled their ill design near International Boundary at Balughat in South West Garo Hills. The cattle smuggling in Garo Hills has now suddenly on spurt but being very effectively checked by the troops of Border Security Force regularly. Yet again in an incident near Indo-Bangladesh Border, acting on a tip-off BSF troops laid a trap when the Bangaladesh smugglers along with their Indian associate were trying to smuggle huge numbers of cattle heads to Bangladesh. The area which is densely forested and undulating, favours these smugglers in their illegal act, still the BSF troops cordonned the suspected area in the dark night. The smugglers were challenged by the BSF party who were taking a huge herd of cattle to Bangladesh through the unfenced area. The troops even lobbed stun grenade which resulted in the seizure of 88 cattle. The BSF party also apprehended one Bangladeshi cattle smuggler who was later identified as Jasmuddin Sheikh (40 yrs) S/o (L) Hasan Sheikh resident of Vill- Kumarghat, Ps- Bagachar, Distt – Diwanganj (BD). However other smugglers managed to flee taking advantage of darkness, hilly slopes and unfenced gaps. Cattle haat along the border are becoming a source of cattle for smuggling. The BSF has increased its vigil at border keeping in view of the increased attempts of cattle smugglers. Recently this trend has increased considerably in Garo Hills districts but the BSF is well determined to defy any such attempt at border. A number of huge seizure in the same area in recent few days. Still the sources indicate the transportation of cattle from Assam through Phulbari to Amapti in Meghalaya.
Similarly, in another incident, the BSF troops deployed at Nayabazar, Umsiang and Lyngkhat, at East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya seized 19 cattle worth Rs. 2.5 Lac while being smuggled to Bangladesh. The special operation party of BSF rushed towards the suspected area before the smugglers could succeed in their nefarious activity, cordoned off the area and recovered a considerable numbers of cattle.
The BSF has continuously been in its drive against the Cattle smugglers. The Border Security Force has intensified its operations on the Indo-Bangladesh Border to prevent menace of cattle smuggling. The BSF has also requested concerned authorities to check the transportation of cattle from hinterland to bordering areas in the name of local consumption but later cattle being attempted to be smuggled to Bangladesh. The cattle are being taken to bordering area concealed in truck even there is no butchery in the bordering areas.
Apprehended person and the seized items handed over to concerned department for further legal action.
