NONGPOH: The Khasi Jaintia Butcher Welfare Association (KJBWA), registering their strong protest over failure of the Syiem of Hima Mylliem, the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) and the government to prevent smuggling of cattle to Bangladesh, on Monday unanimously decided to stop buying cattle for the time being from the cattle market at Khanapara in Ri-Bhoi.
The decision was taken during the protest held at Khanapara Cattle Market which was also attended by the leaders of the Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP), including Dundee Cliff Khongsit, General Secretary, central body, Luistar Lyngdoh, General Secretary, North Khasi Hills and others beside the butchers from across the Khasi-Jaintia Hills region.
KJBWA President Generous Warlarpih, while speaking to media persons at the cattle market at Khanapara, said that though the cattle, which are under the disposal of the Syiem of Hima Mylliem, were meant for providing sufficient beef for consumption in the state, it has instead now become a market for smugglers supplying cattle to Bangladesh.
He also informed that the Association has decided to stop buying cattle from this market for the time being until the concerned authority takes concrete steps to stop the smuggling.
“The cost of each cattle head is very high for the local buyers from the state, as most were meant for smuggling to Bangladesh,” Warlarpih lamented, adding that though there are hundreds of cattle in the market yet they have to come several times a week to get their supply as most of the cattle were being sold to buyers for smuggling to Bangladesh.
Warlarpih also informed that the Association had from time to time raised this issue with the government, the KHADC and the Syiem of Hima Mylliem but so far nothing has been done to prevent cattle smuggling, which is why the cost of beef is rising day by day thereby affecting the general people.
FKJGP General Secretary, Dundee Cliff Khongsit also supported the move by the KJBWA and also expressed concern over smuggling.
Khongsit also said that the federation will extend all possible help and also to fight together with the KJBWA in curbing smuggling, while at the same time urging butchers across the Khasi-Jaintia Hills region as well the truck drivers responsible for ferrying cattle in the state to cooperate with the decision of the KJBWA for the benefit of the people of the state.
