There have been 7,640 cattle seized by the authorities before they could be smuggled over into Bangladesh in the last four years, the Meghalaya Police informed today.
In the same time 498 police cases have been registered, out of which only 73 were charge-sheeted. The number of people arrested in connection with these cases is 229, Assistant Inspector General of Police GK Iangrai said in a press release.
As it shares long borders with Assam and Bangladesh, Meghalaya is a popular route for cattle smugglers. Iangrai said that the smuggling has been a “stumbling block” for several places in the state.
“The syndicates which are involved in cattle theft and smuggling are unceasingly working from both sides of the border to smuggle innumerable cattle from the state and, due to such illegal activities, there have been large numbers of cattle being stolen and, concomitantly, cases being registered,” the AIGP said.
The Border Security Force (BSF) often makes large seizures of cattle while foiling smuggling attempts and almost as often calls for greater cooperation from the state authorities in tackling this menace. These calls for help may have prompted today’s release.
Iangrai also said that District Superintendents of Police have been told to be more vigilant and thwart such illegal activity through “patrolling, convening public meetings at the grassroots level and to liaise with other sister agencies”.
