Shillong, March 05: The unabated attempts of smugglers to smuggle cattle from India to Bangladesh once again foiled in Meghalaya international border. This times the Sentinels of Border apprehended the smugglers along with huge number of cattle.
In a joint operation with Meghalaya police the BSF troops deployed at Gopinathkila, South West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya launched a special operation at the border. The party observed some suspicious movement on link road Gopinathkilla. where some cattle smugglers were trying to smuggle cattle towards International Boundary. Party challenged them, resultantly the smugglers tried to escape from the site but BSF party cordoned the area and apprehended 06 smugglers with 35 nos cattle .
The apprehended smugglers identified as Mr Diman Areng 28 years resident of Fokachindi, Mr Jodha D Marak 25 years, Mr Ponam Marak 18 years residence of Hathimara Village, Mr Dalu, Artish M Marak 30 years of Radangpara village, Mr Namzan A Marak 40 years resident of Radangpara, and Mr Bansang M Marak 32 years resident of Hatimara, all are from West Garo Hills District.
Similarly, in two more incidents, the BSF troops deployed at Iew Thymmai in , East Khasi Hills district and Balughat, South West Garo Hills of Meghalaya seized 72 cattle worth more then Rs. 10 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.
It is mentioned that with the recent slump in the smuggling and resultant demand-supply gap, the beaf price has skyrocketed in Bangladesh, making trafficking riskier but much lucrative. The economics of the whole operation is found to be quite lucrative enough for people to ignore the risks to life. This appears to have emboldened the criminals who are now more brazen and violent too.
Moreover, the cow-traffickers have also developed a well-oiled counter-intelligence network. “There are ‘linemen’ whose task is to keep tabs on BSF movement. Then there are ‘transporters’ who ensure the cattle go across the border, and there are ‘stoners’ who rain stones on the BSF party to scatter us. The modus operandi of the smugglers, seized animals make their way back to the smugglers who buy them during their auction by the customs department.
Since a huge stretch of Indo-Bangla border is still without fence, smugglers take their chances. But it is a tip of an iceberg. But the strangest thing is that these seized cows get auctioned, most often the cow-smugglers buy back these cows. Indian cattle fetch more value in Bangladesh depending on its size, age and health informed BSF PRO.
The BSF has increased its vigil at border keeping in view the increased attempts of cattle smugglers. Recently this trend has increased considerably but the BSF is well determined to defy any such attempt at border. Apprehended smugglers and the seized cattle handed over to concerned department for further legal action.
