GUWAHATI: The All India Livestock Traders and Transporters Association has urged the Assam government constitute a high-level probe into the smuggling of livestock from the state to Bangladesh through border check-posts and rein in sections harming the trade.
The association during a media interaction here on Wednesday alleged that a section of police were hand in glove with illegal transporters and that the latter were given free passage to carry out their activities over the years.
“On the contrary, the licensed transporters of livestock such as cattle and pigs, despite possessing all documents, are being harassed at different checkpoints in the districts bordering Bangladesh, especially at Simolutapu outpost (Srirampur in Kokrajhar) and Boxirhat (Dhubri), Munna Saikia, the general secretary of the organisation’s Assam unit, claimed.
The association further alleged that some unscrupulous licence holders are causing immense damage to the trade by providing their licences for a “fee” to smugglers.
“We therefore urge the authorities to constitute a high-level inquiry into the activities in these border check-posts besides keeping a close watch on such sections who are causing immense harm to the trade,” Saikia said.
The association further requested the authorities to appoint honest and sincere police personnel in these border check-posts so that such activities are nipped in the bud and smugglers taken to task.