Shillong, Oct 6: The A·chik State Peoples’ Front (ASPF), Kharkutta Regional Unit has filed an FIR at Kharkutta Police Station alleging illegal cattle smuggling and assault on its members at Chigrang village.
In its complaint, ASPF said its team was returning after collecting Jal Jeevan Mission complaint letters from A·dokgre on Tuesday when at around 5:30 pm on the Adokgre to Mangsang Road at Chigrang, they spotted two trucks bearing registration numbers AS 01 JC 9267 and AS 01 QC 5405 loaded with cattle tied cruelly without food, water or valid permit.
Suspecting illegal inter-state and international smuggling from Assam to Bangladesh via Meghalaya, the members enquired and video recorded the trucks.
The organisation alleged that 10 to 15 persons who were clearing the road for the trucks abused, assaulted and illegally detained one of its members and issued threats. ASPF claimed it has video and photo evidence and that the trucks are part of an organised syndicate operating for years on the Adokgre-Mangsang-Rongjeng route with muscle power and local facilitators.
ASPF has demanded immediate release of the detained member, registration of FIR and seizure of both trucks with veterinary inspection and verification of permits, action under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, Meghalaya Cattle Preservation Act 2020 and relevant sections of BNS, preservation of CCTV footage of Adokgre Outpost from October 5 evening to October 6 morning, and police protection to its members.
