Khapara market being used for smuggling cattle to Bangladesh'

From Staff Correspondent

Shillong, Feb 18: The alleged misuse of the traditiol Khapara cattle market in Ri-Bhoi district for smuggling has been substantiated by the Khasi-Jaintia Butchers Assoctioan (KJBA). The Khapara market known to have been run by certain interested groups to smuggle cattle to Bangladesh was reported by The Sentinel. Sources said the trade still going on. More than 40 cattle heads were intercepted by the state Police on Wednesday. “The transporters claimed to be butchers with no such credentials in the past,” stated the general secretary of the KJBA, Generous Warlarpih, adding, “This is another ploy to smuggle the cattle heads to Bangladesh”. The cattle heads were intercepted in Pynursla emating from Khapara. Even as the state and central authorities effected a mechanism to regulate the outflow of cattle to Bangladesh, it is evidently clear that the so called custodian of the Traditiol market are responsible for the unwanted movement of cattle that comes from mainland India. “Yes, it is true, the so called traditiol custodian are involved in some mischievous activities that has made the cost of beef dearer in the state”, stated the Warlarpih. Acknowledging that the influential Hima Mylliem (Mylliem Chiefdom) is involved in this illegal trade, he alleged that the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) is also responsible for it.