By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Nov 2: Instances of cattle smuggling to Bangladesh through the borders of the Northeast have reportedly increased, and the erection of border fencing is expected to help curb the trans-border crime.
Inspector General of BSF Meghalaya Frontier, O.P. Upadhyay, said that although cattle smuggling has seen a rise, the BSF remains confident of tackling the issue with the cooperation of the local police and customs authorities.
Around 50–60 km of the Indo-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya is yet to be fenced, and the BSF believes that completing the fencing will significantly help in controlling illegal activities. It may be noted that illegal cattle smuggling to Bangladesh through Meghalaya has been a longstanding issue, frequently coming up for discussion and debate on various platforms. Meghalaya shares a 443-km border with Bangladesh, and fencing in certain stretches remains incomplete due to land and alignment disputes.
Local residents have been demanding that the fencing be constructed along the zero line, whereas official protocols mandate that it be erected 150 yards inside Indian territory. “We are working hard to ensure early completion of the border fencing, and recently, we have made progress in certain areas,” the IG said, adding that the BSF is coordinating with the state government for the early handover of land required for construction.
Informing that the fencing work is being carried out round the clock, the BSF chief in Meghalaya also lauded the support being extended by the state government.
