Livestock transport is trading, not smuggling: Meghalaya minister amid border trafficking concerns

CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG: Meghalaya’s Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Minister A.L. Hek has asserted that transportation of livestock within India is “not smuggling, it’s trading,” even as he acknowledged growing concerns over cross-border trafficking into Bangladesh.

Speaking to media persons Hek stressed, “BSF, police caught them, the Deputy Commissioner of the respective district they are aware of the issue so they are doing their job. We have given very strict instructions from the beginning that anybody cannot smuggle any kind livestock outside the country. Within our country we have no problem because we call it not a smuggling but a trading, anybody can bring but it has to be in good condition health conditions of the livestock. It’s trading of cattle, not smuggling.”

Replying to the concern raised during his meeting with the Hynñiewtrep Integrated Territorial Organisation (HITO) in Shillong, the  Animal Husbandry and Veterinary informed that two permanent livestock check posts are being established in Meghalaya—one in Ri-Bhoi and another in Nidanpur, Selsella—where animals brought from outside will be inspected and quarantined. He conceded that HITO had raised a “very valid point” about the absence of a proper government-run livestock health care centre in Meghalaya, adding that the state had already received Government of India sanction for such facilities two years ago.

“The construction is going on… we have been telling the department to speed it up. Very soon we are going to implement either one of these health care centre,” Hek said.

On illegal smuggling, Hek said, “Recently also we have got call from some people. BSF are checking, BSF, police and department are also working. As BSF has caught cattle at the border taken for smuggling means there is illegal smuggling of cattles at the border. BSF doing their job, Police and Animal Husbandry Department doing their job.”

HITO, meanwhile, has placed on record its “deep concern over the unchecked smuggling and illegal import of cattle, poultry, piggery and other livestock products into and through Meghalaya,” warning that the menace is “growing by the day” and threatens the state’s economy, public health, and governance credibility. The organisation pointed to Byrnihat in Ri-Bhoi as the main entry point for this illicit trade, alleging the existence of a “well-oiled clandestine network” and even “connivance of certain police elements,” while lamenting that lucrative smuggling profits were pulling local youth out of school.

In a strongly worded warning, HITO declared, “If the Government fails to act immediately, HITO will have no choice but to launch its own independent inspections and investigations to identify the routes, facilitators, and official negligence enabling this illegal trade. These findings will be made public and formally presented to the authorities. Such exposure will not only embarrass the Government but also severely erode public trust in the present ruling dispensation.”

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