SHILLONG: There is disparity between the numbers of cattle seized by BSF as mentioned in its media releases and the State Government’s official data.
The frequent media releases of the BSF mention about the seizure of hundreds of cattle to be smuggled across the border.
On Friday, during the Assembly session, the chief minister Mukul Sangma had maintained that as per Government records, in the last three years, only 28 cattle smuggling cases were reported to the State Police by BSF and Customs.
However, a recent statement of the BSF said that in February last, the BSF troops had seized as many as 146 cattle. Another statement issued last year said that the BSF personnel had seized up to 480 cattle in one night from smugglers.
An official source said on Sunday that since there is disparity in the official seizure list available with the State Government and the seizure as projected by BSF, there is a need to have verification so that there is parity. In a statement on Sunday, the BSF said its troops seized 96 cattle at zero line during past two days.
The BSF claimed that acting on information obtained from reliable sources that the cattle smugglers had kept many cattle in forest area of Miringipara SWGH, a joint operation was carried out with Ampati police and the cattle was seized. According to BSF, another set of seizure was donw at Nayabazar, East Khasi Hills, Gopinathkilla, SWGH, Purakhasia, West Garo Hills and Rachnagiri and Shibari, South Garo Hills.
