Tough stand taken against cattle smuggling: Chandra Mohan Patowary

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: The State government has informed the Assembly that it is acting tough against cattle smuggling, and it has registered as many as 889 cases in this regard since June 1, 2016.

State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary informed the House on Monday that from June 1, 2016 to February 22, 2020 as many as 14,759 smuggled cattle and 309 trucks carrying cattle were seized, besides the arrest of 1,130 cattle smugglers during the period, leading to the registration of 889 cases against them.

Patowary said, “The kingpin of cattle smuggling had his office at Jorabat. However, the tough stand taken by the Assam Police against cattle smuggling made him flee the area. He was, however, arrested from Bihar. The government never compromises with any illegal activities.”

Earlier, BJP MLA Suman Haripriya said that during the Congress regime cattle smuggling to Bangladesh was taking place freely from Assam. She added, “Assam cattle made the neighbouring country richer. Bangladesh processes beef from the cows smuggled from Assam and supplies it to the western countries. Assam cattle have been a source of Bangladesh economy.”

Haripriya further said, “The State government needs to keep a close watch on the cattle markets in the State. A section of brokers issues fake receipts to cattle smugglers.”

The BJP MLA also informed the House of the different cattle smuggling routes to Bangladesh. According to her, while one of the routes snakes through Nagaon-Jorabat-Shillong to Bangladesh, another route passes through Nellie-Karbi Anglong-Meghalaya to Bangladesh. Yet another route, she said, goes from Mankachar to Bangladesh. “However, with the tough stand taken by the Assam Police the smugglers have opted to use the riverine routes nowadays,” she added.

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