Plug cattle smuggling routes near border: Centre to BSF

The Union Home Ministry has directed Border Security Force (BSF) to plug all established cattle smuggling routes on the Indo-Bangla border a...

The Union Home Ministry has directed Border Security Force (BSF) to plug all established cattle smuggling routes on the Indo-Bangla border and is contemplating imposing strict restrictions on use of mass transport system for transfer of cattle from mainland to bordering states through a legislation. It is also considering regular census of cattle in bordering districts of Assam, Tripura and West Bengal.

Bangladesh legalised the illegal trade by levying a tax on cattle smuggled across the border. Besides domestic consumption, Bangladesh exports a large quantity of meat to Gulf countries. India’s move to harden its hitherto soft policy on cattle smuggling is expected to send a message to an increasingly hostile Bangladesh.

It is estimated that over 10 lakh heads of cattle are smuggled every year from India. The BSF guarding the Indo-Bangla border seized about 1 lakh cattle last year. According to Union Home Ministry officials Bangladesh levies a duty of Rs 400 per animal and earns an estimated revenue of Takas 40,000 crore per year through the trade.

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Senior BSF officials told Express that there are 68 established corridors of cattle smuggling along the border. Of them, 31 are in south Bengal, 10 in north Bengal, 6 through Assam and 11 in Tripura. While some routes have been fenced, the ministry has directed fencing of all routes immediately.

It is understood that the Railway Ministry has been sounded out on further tightening rules on transport of cattle to states like Assam, West Bengal and Tripura. The Centre is also likely to consult states like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Bihar and Rajasthan on imposing restrictions on use of roadways for transfer of cattle. Majority of the cattle is smuggled into Bangladesh from these states.

BSF officers claim if states carry out regular localised census of cattle in border districts—as the ministry is likely to propose—it would prevent Indians from indulging in cattle smuggling.

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