Shillong, June 17: The courageous troops of Border Security Force, now a days heavily engaged in stopping smuggling of bovine animals besides guarding the frontier. The cattle smuggling getting more rampant with dilemma on ban on cow slaughter.
The troops of Border Security Force once again showing alertness and extra vigil on International Border, foiled the attempt of notorious smugglers and seized 144 cattle on International Border in more than 6 incidents during last night.
The vigilant BSF troops deployed at Ganganagar in South West Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya noticed 3-4 smugglers and miscreants alongwith cattle heads moving towards Bangladesh side near the international border. They immediately rushed towards the spot.
The miscreants ran away back towards Indian side on seeing BSF troops. The BSF troops cordoned the area and recovered 50 cattle worth more than Rs. 7 lac after thorough search. These cattle were being smuggled to Bangladesh taking advantage of unfenced area of Ganganagar, the boundering area of South Garo Hills District and South West Khasi Hills Distts of Mehalaya. It is mentioned that these cattle are unloaded huge in numbers by the vehicle on Hill road which is 3 Kms away from International Border and thereafter taken through thick foliage and forested area for crossing over to Bangladesh.
Similarly in another incident, the BSF troops deployed at Purakhasia, South West Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya launched Spl. operation and seized 45 cattle worth more than Rs. 5 lac. while being smuggled to Bangladesh taking advantage of darkness through unfenced gaps.
Shri U. K. Nayal, Deputy Inspector General, FHQ, BSF, New Delhi has instructed Intelligence branch of Meghalaya Frontier about the sure increase in cattle smuggling in coming days due to upcoming Eid festival in Bangladesh. After analyzing the new trends, she has issued new directives to teams of Eastern Command of BSF.
The price of beaf is more than double in Bangladesh compared to India. With the recent slump in the smuggling and resultant demand-supply gap, the beaf price has skyrocketed in Bangladesh. The troops of Border Security Force are increasingly facing physical assaults by smugglers also. Moreover, the cow-traffickers have also developed a well-oiled counter-intelligence network.
There are ‘linemen’ whose task is to keep tabs on the movement of BSF troopers. 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. This type of modus operandi being adopted by the cattle smugglers. Since a huge stretch of Indo-Bangla border is still without fence, despite of regular movements of BSF troops gaps do create. The BSF has been regularly persueing the locals to co-operate in providing land for erection of fence.
The incidents of cattle smuggling have been on the rise across the International Border with Bangladesh with a vigilant troops of BSF making quite a few breakthrough, still the meance has continued. After continuous anti -smuggling drive and putting extra vigil on the border to prevent and curb smuggling, the BSF has been achieving a great success in countering the cattle smuggling and apprehension of smugglers. Shri P. K. Dubey, Inspector General, Meghalaya Frontier has congratulated the troops for their successful seizures and directed to be more careful in coming days.
