By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, MAR 10: The Meghalaya government today said that it would take up with the Centre on the issue of the increase incidents of cattle smuggling to Bangladesh.
“This is a serious matter and we will further take it up aggressively with the Government of India,” Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said in the Assembly.
Calling for a need to revisit the border management, Sangma said this was to ensure that apart from cattle smuggling, other illegal activities taking place along the Indo-Bangladesh border are also addressed.
Stating that patrolling along the border has to be strengthened by the Centre, he informed that the issue has been often flagged.
He also informed that the Centre was asking for land for raising more battalions of the Border Security Force (BSF) as only intensifying patrolling is not enough.
“Therefore, we need to create an enabling environment for the BSF,” Sangma said.
While stating that the issue of cattle smuggling pertained to central agencies – Customs department and BSF – the chief minister said that as per records, 28 such cases were reported to the state police by the BSF and Customs department in the last 3 years.
Expressing concern, HSPDP legislator Ardent M Basaiawmoit informed that there were over 8000 cattle seized by the BSF from along the international border in Meghalaya. He also alleged that the state government appeared to be disinterested and shrugging off its responsibility in addressing the menace.
He said that the state government was trying to put the onus to others despite cattle smuggling taking place in the border which is well within the state.
Basaiawmoit also said that the problem has affected the beef business resulting in a rise in prices of beef, and the burden has been passed onto the consumers.
On this, the chief minister said whether the member was demanding a cow ban or whether he should replace the BSF with state police which there is no such mandate.
He also pointed out that if checking is conducted it will only subject the genuine traders including those at the border areas to unnecessary harassment.
Therefore, he said, the best way out, which is legal, is to strengthen and intensify the international border.
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