Govt records confirm only 28 smuggling cases in State in three years
SHILLONG: At a time when the State government has maintained that only 28 cattle smuggling cases were reported to the police by BSF and Customs in the last three years, the border guards continue to contradict the claim. BSF Meghalaya Frontier IG, PK Dubey said his men have seized over 1000 cattle in the recent past and a press release related to the seizures would be sent out on Tuesday.
He also said that many a time the BSF cannot file FIR when only cattle are seized. “The cattle are deposited to Customs,” he said.
Dubey added that due to strict vigil in Assam, there has been an increase in the smuggling of cattle from Meghalaya.
The State Assembly last week witnessed heated arguments between Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and HSPDP legislator Ardent Basaiawmoit on the issue of smuggling of cattle from Meghalaya to Bangladesh.
While Basaiawmoit questioned the State Government for not taking adequate steps to check the smuggling of cattle, the chief minister maintained that it was not the duty of the government alone to deal with the matter as the Central agencies, especially BSF, should also share responsibility.
The chief minister added that according to the records available with the Government, only 28 cattle smuggling cases were reported to the State Police by BSF and Customs in the last three years.
