A Supreme Court-appointed commission to make an on-the-spot assessment of the Indo-Bangladesh border in Assam has found a “phenomenal increase” in cattle smuggling this year and suggested amending the law to check this menace. The commission has also recommended shifting cattle haats 20 km away from the border. “Cattle smuggling has shown a phenomenal increase this year as compared to the past few years and it is imperative that the cattle haats be shifted,” said the commission, in its report to the apex court. Pointing at the lack of an effective law to check the menace, it also suggested amending the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. Quoting figures provided by the BSF, the report said that while the value of cattle smuggled out to Bangladesh through the Dhubri sector in Assam was Rs 1.89 crore during 2014, the same had already crossed the Rs 13.80 crore mark by mid-September this year. [related-post] “This year has seen an unprecedented increase in cattle smuggling. A year-wise table of cattle smuggled (through Dhubri sector) from 2006 onward has shown a decline in cattle smuggled from 23,649 in 2009 to 2,562 in 2011, (but) it has gone up from 3,021 in 2014 to 17,152 up to September 20, 2015. The value of cattle smuggled in 2014 was Rs 1,89,35,080, which went up to Rs 13,80,82,645 till September 20, 2015 as per a chart provided by the BSF,” the report said. The commission said lack of a legislation was the main hurdle in effectively checking cattle smuggling. “The primary problem is the movement of cattle from the rest of India into Assam and West Bengal, being bordering states of Bangladesh. In this regard, it is possible to amend existing subordinate legislation under Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960,” the commission said. It also suggested shifting of cattle haats away from the international border, saying the distance and transportation costs would work as deterrents. It also said shifting cattle impounded for auction by the BSF away from the border could be another deterrent.
