The Rangia railway police has seized a total of 282 cattle heads including buffaloes, calves and cows from the railway station in Tangla in Udalguri district.
The railway police on Saturday seized the cattle, which were being transported in railway carriages from Hajipur of Bihar to Assam after a Goalpara based NGO member filed an FIR with the Dangtal Railway Station Police under Dhaligaon P.S in Chirang district.
The police have kept the seized cattle at the Bhootbangla crematorium ground in Tangla, where local residents and members of the Marwari Yuva Samaj are providing them with makeshift tents and edibles.
About 50 cattle traders are also staying in these makeshift tents to look after their cattle.
Deputy superintendent of Rangia railway police, Trinayan Bhuyan said, “We seized the cattle heads acting on a complaint filed by an NGO member and registered a case under the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.”
Also read: Meghalaya: BSF troopers seize cattle smuggling truck, rescues 30 cattle
“During the investigation, we found that the cattle have been lawfully purchased with proper documents, but certain guidelines of the Cattle Act were flouted as the food was not provided to them during transportation,” he said.
The matter has been sent to court.
“We have brought the cows and buffaloes for dairy farming,” said Rakibul Islam, a trader.
“Our calves have died due to the cold in the makeshift tents in the Bhootbangla crematorium grounds. Now who will compensate for our losses?” questioned Sahidul Ali, another trader.
“We are now waiting for the court order for the custody of our cattle,” he said.