SHILLONG: Even after the Border Security Forces managed to seize more than 330 cattle along the Indo-Bangla border last week, smuggling of cattle along the international border continues unabated.
In view of the increased cattle smuggling, the BSF has intensified its vigil along the international border.
On a tipoff, the BSF carried out a special search operation in Kuliang Forest close to the International Border on December 25 and seized around 208 cattle.
And on December 26, cattle worth Rs 32.7 Lakhs were seized along the border.
Earlier, on the intervening night of December 24 and 25, 124 cattle heads and truck worth Rs 33 Lakhs were seized by the BSF in Meghalaya along the international border.
The issue of cattle smuggling along the borders was discussed in detail during the Inspectors General-Region Commanders Conference between the BSF and BGB held in Shillong. Both the forces had maintained that adequate measures were being taken to prevent cattle smuggling.
There are syndicates in India too who are involved in cattle smuggling as they take the cattle to the border to smuggle them to Bangladesh. The BSF maintained that the disposal of seized cattle is a headache and the auction process needs to be amended as in many instances, the seized cattle are not taken over by the authorities, in spite of accepting the seizer memo, the cattle are kept at the border out posts. The BSF also admitted that they are struggling in managing the cattle as there are no infrastructures.
Presently 1327 cattle are kept in various BOPs awaiting auction and during the current year 1124 cattle have died due to poor basic amenities.
