Shillong, April 01: The Border Security Force in its continuous anti-Smuggling drive, on the International Border, has been foiling the attempts of smugglers every now and then by making seizures at the international border. Once again acting swiftly on information, in areas of Muktapur, Lyngkhat, East Khasi Hills and Rajai, South West Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya, alert BSF troops seized 179 Nos cattle while being smuggled to Bangladesh on 30thMarch’2019.
It is worth mentioning that the BSF has been continuously affecting seizures in the particular areas of Umsiyam, Muktapur, Lyngkhat and Nayabazar. These cattle having value more than 38 lacs were being smuggled from India to Bangladesh. It is mentioned that the smugglers trying to smuggle cattle from the unfenced areas but the alert BSF jawan repeatedly foiling their attempts.
Resultantly the smugglers have also tried to smuggle cattle through fenced area by breaching the Indo-Bangla Border Fence at several instances.The delay in erection of Indo-Bangladesh Border Fence has also been exploited by the perpetrators of this illegal activity.
The spurt in cattle smuggling in Meghalaya seems to be due to deployment of troops in election duties and recent raising demand in Bangladesh which has lured the smugglers to carry out cruel and nonhuman activities in Meghalaya. In one more incident, on 31st March’2019, daring cattle smugglers proceeding with 05 trucks loaded with 80 cattlefor smuggling on Hill road between Dumnikura and Gasuapara South Garo Hills District towards International Border in the disguise of local consumption.
The BSF troops deployed at Gasuapara, South Garo Hills district of Meghalaya launched Spl. operation and intercepted all the 05 Trucks cruelly loaded with cattle. The Special operation party took all the vehicles with cattle to Gasuapara Police Station for necessary action .’Still there are many unplugged gaps for which joint efforts are required to be taken with State Police and other sister agencies to curb this menace at the hinterland only. These smugglers are not only involved in illegal act of smuggling but also show extreme cruelty towards animals during the illegal transport ’ said Sh. Kuldeep Saini, Inspector General BSF Frontier Meghalaya.
The Border Security Force has intensified its vigil at border in Meghalaya despite large number of troops being deployed in election duty in different parts of country. The available BSF troops have countered the smugglers very effectively and their nefarious designs or mischievous adventures are not being allowed to succeed. The BSF has taken a series of measures to curb cattle smuggling along the border. The Sentinels of Border has intensified extra vigil in view of the forthcoming Lok Sabha Election.It is worth mentioning that BSF has seized 410 nos of cattle during last week. All the seized cattle handed over to concern department for further legal action.
