229 persons arrested for cattle smuggling in Meghalaya: Police

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaNovember 25, 2020

Over 229 persons were arrested for attempting to smuggle over 7640 cattle during the past five year.

According to police, a total of 489 cases were registered from the year 2016 till date, out of which 73 cases have been charge-sheeted, 205 cases have ended in final report and 220 cases are still pending investigation.

The number of persons who were arrested in connection with the cases registered were 229 and the number of cattle seized were 7640.

Stating that cattle smuggling is an organized crime, Assistant Inspector General of Police (A) Gabriel K Iangrai said this has been a stumbling block for several places in Meghalaya which shares the inter-state boundary with Assam and the international boundary with the neighbouring country Bangladesh.

He said the syndicates which are involve in cattle theft and smuggling are unceasingly working from both sides of the border to smuggle innumerable cattle from the state.

According to him, due to such illegal activities, there have been large numbers of cattle being stolen and concomitantly, cases being registered under relevant provisions of law.

In order to prevent and detect such illegal activities within the state, the AIGP said the department had issued a circular to all the district Superintendents of Police to be more vigilant and to thwart such illegal activities through endeavours such as patrolling, convening of public meetings at the grass root level and to liaise with other sister agencies regarding the illegal activities at the international border. 

A meeting was also held with BSF Organization, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Department and Dhyan Foundation, at Police Headquarters, Shillong, on July 29, last year under the chairmanship of R Chandranathan, Director General of Police, Meghalaya deliberating on various issues pertaining to cattle smuggling and to discern ways and means to address the issue.