6 held after cattle smuggling bid foiled in Meghalaya

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaNovember 20, 2020

Six persons were apprehended along with 53 cattle from along the international border with Bangladesh on Friday.

According to the Border Security Force (BSF), the six Indian nationals were apprehended near Dawki in West Jaintia Hills district for their involvement in smuggling of cattle.

A total of 53 cattle were seized from a truck and the manner in which they were being transported is in contravention to Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Acts, they said.

The preliminary questioning report of arrested persons revealed that these cattle were transported from Guwahati (Khanapara) and consisted of various cattle breeds which are generally not found in North eastern states.

They also disclosed a new modus operandi adopted while transporting these cattle to deceive Police personnel on duty at various checkpoints including inter- state border along the National highway, BSF said in a statement.

To tackle this menace, the statement said the BSF have again urged the state authorities concerned to conduct joint operation in these areas and also place checkpoints at suitable locations.

It said study on cattle smuggling also revealed that it is linked with drug smuggling in the State and the money generated through this smuggling is used for funding remnant insurgent groups active in Meghalaya.