Assam government can sell vehicles used in cattle smuggling

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: If anybody transports cattle illegally, the State government will have the power to sell the vehicle used for the purpose with permission from the court. The government allows inter-district movement of cows, barring the districts bordering Bangladesh. It, however, allows the movement of cows to the border districts for milking purposes. The Assembly today passed the Assam Cattle Preservation (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

Speaking in favour of the bill, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "We saw people illegally transporting cattle torching their vehicle when they get caught. They do so in Srirampur and Boxirhat to erase proof. The vehicle owners should know that the government is tough on cattle smuggling. We will sell vehicles used for cattle smuggling with permission from the court. In the run-up to the last Assembly poll, we assured the people to be tough on cattle smuggling. We got the mandate, and we will protect cows. Around 20-30 per cent smuggling of cattle still goes on. Some smugglers procure cows from illegal sources. The government will restrict it.

"We want to use cows for milk. We are holding talks with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) to produce ten lakh litres of milk daily. We are preparing a Rs 1,400-crore project for this."

The Chief Minister informed the House that the police registered 406 cattle smuggling cases, seized 2,808 cows, arrested 240 smugglers, killed one (in police action) and injured five (in police action).

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