Rs 3.5 cr worth cattle heads seized along Indo-Bangla border

Guwahati, June 2 (UNI) The Border Security Force(BSF) has seized 2,289 cattle heads worth Rs 3.5 crore from the Asom and Meghalaya frontier areas of the Indo-Bangladesh border this year.

BSF sources said cattle smuggling was rampant along the border with the connivance of miscreants on both sides.

On June 1, the Kushnimara Border Observation Post(BOP) of the BSF seized 33 cattle along the Mankachar belt of the border.

About 25 cattle smugglers were trying to cross the border yesterday when the BOP personnels ordered stopped them.

The smugglers attacked the securitymen, forcing them to fire.

However, the criminals managed to escape. The BSF seized the cattles from the smugglers.

In another incident yesterday, the BSF seized 20 cattle heads near Jordanga.

BSF sources said a number of cattle 'haats' (markets) have cropped up along the Indo-Bangladesh border. ''That part of the border is unfenced and composite fencing in the area is in progress,'' BSF sources said.

The source added that majority of the cattle in the area were smuggled to Bangladesh.

''No legal provisions exist to prevent such movement of cattle from the hinterlands to the border areas,'' the BSF pointed out.

Besides, the BSF has seized ganja worth around Rs 46 lakh along the frontiers of Asom and Meghalaya border this year.

On May 30, BSF had seized 100 kg of contraband worth Rs four lakh from two smugglers.

About 550 kg of contraband have been seized in the Mantrichar area alone this year.

UNI