The Border Security Force (BSF) in Meghalaya has claimed that a study on cattle smuggling revealed a link with drug smuggling in the state.
The money generated through smuggling is used for funding insurgent groups active in the state.
“Cattle smuggling in the state has re-surfaced and is increasing in East Khasi Hills, West Jaintia Hills and East Jaintia Hills districts, which share their borders with Bangladesh,” said an official statement issued by BSF, Meghalaya Frontier.
The BSF has formed special teams to carry out intelligence-based operations in these areas to prevent such illegal activity,” the statement said.
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In a series of such operations, BSF troops apprehended six persons involved in cattle smuggling near Dawki in West Jaintia Hills.
53 cattle were also seized from them.
A truck was also seized during the drive in which the cattle were being transported in violation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act.
The arrested persons revealed that these cattle were transported from Khanapara in Guwahati.
Different breeds of cattle, generally not found in the Northeast, were being smuggled across the border.
“The accused also disclosed a new modus operandi adopted to deceive police personnel on duty at various checkpoints, including the inter-state boundary along the national highway,” the BSF said.
The BSF urged the state authorities to conduct joint operations in these areas and create checkpoints at suitable locations to tackle this menace.