Shillong, July 26: The Troops of Border Security Force once again showing alertness and extra vigil on International Border, foiled the attempt of notorious smugglers and seized 85 Nos cattle at International Border of Meghalaya. The special operation party of BSF laid a trap while some smugglers along with cattle were proceeding towards Bangladesh through a thickly vegetated area/dense forest of Bhawanipur area of South Garo Hills District. The BSF troops 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.
Acting on reliable information that some cattle smugglers proceeding with huge number of cattle for smuggling towards International Border. The BSF troops deployed at Baghmara and Bhawanipur, South Garo Hills district of Meghalaya launched Spl. operation and prevented 40 nos cattle worth more than Rs.5.6 lacs being smuggled to Bangladesh.
Similarly, in another incident, the BSF troops deployed at Lynkhat, East Khasi Hills seized 20 cattle worth more than Rs. 3.75 lacs while being smuggled from India to Bangladesh. The special operation party of BSF laid another trap while some smugglers along with cattle were proceeding towards Bangladesh through a thickly vegetated area.
The spurt in cattle smuggling in Meghalaya seems to be due to recent flood situation in Assam which has forced the smugglers to divert their area of activities in Meghalaya. In the disguise of local consumption, cattle are being transported towards bordering area of Meghalaya. Specially South West Garo Hills area has become the hub of these cattle smugglers where the manifold increase in number of cattle has been found during the cattle Haats. Garobadha, Ampati, Purakhasia along with many other local markets and Haats have become places for cattle sale where the smugglers co-ordinate their illegal acts.
The existence of these cattle Haats near the border belt has also worsened the situation. Though BSF has been manning the border round the clock, still smugglers are taking their chances to exploit the unfenced areas and gaps due to culverts, hume pipes and unfenced area due to rivers, nullahs etc.
In addition the BSF troops seized 310 Nos cattle, and contraband items worth more than Rs. 53 Lacs, while being smuggled out from India to Bangladesh on the International Border along Meghalaya since last week from the areas of Tuka, Nayabazar, Lyngkhat, Distt East Khasi Hills, Gopinathkilla Distt. South West Garo Hills, Ganganagar Distt. West Khasi Hills and Dumkaphal Distt. South Garo Hills of Meghalaya.
