SHILLONG: Cattle smugglers have come up with a new ploy, that of posing as butchers, in order to transport cattle meant to be smuggled into Bangladesh.
Claiming this while talking to media persons on Thursday, Khasi-Jaintia Butchers’ Welfare Association (KJBWA) vice president, Generous Warlarpih said that the cattle smugglers are now even “going to the extent of getting the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) to issue challan for transportation of cattle” meant to be smuggled into the neighbouring country.
Smugglers are adopting this new tactic following police’s increased vigil against cattle smuggling.
Pynursla Police had on Wednesday seized 40 cattle from Pontung village.
The association members visited the village on Thursday and were asked to meet a group of people who claimed to be butchers.
“They also produced challan issued by the KHADC to one B Marbaniang for transportation of the cattle from Khanapara market too Pynursla,” Warlarpih said.
However, members of the association from Pynursla confirmed that Marbaniang was never a butcher.
Warlarpih questioned the challan issued by the KHADC as according to him such documents are issued by the Syiem of Hima Mylliem.
“We would soon meet the concerned authorities from the district council to seek further clarification on the sudden issuing of challan by its office,” he said.
The KJBWA vice president also said that stakeholders should be taken into consideration before deciding to implement the transit pass system for transportation of cattle from the Khanapara market.
Police had on Wednesday evening seized 14 cattle from one truck driven by Keneth Thabah (22 yrs) and 26 cattle from a stock yard at Sohkyndah Raid Shabong, Pynursla meant to be smuggled to Bangladesh.
More cattle seized
On Thursday, BSF troops deployed at Patherghat, East Khasi Hills, seized five cattle while being they were being smuggled out to Bangladesh.
