From Bhupen Goswami
GUWAHATI : The Indo-Bangladesh cattle smuggling is going on unabated. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityananda Rai said that over 4.79 lakh cattle kept for smuggling into Bangladesh by BSF were apprehended in the last five years. The minister said that in 2016, 1, 68801 cattle were seized on the border, 1, 19299 in 2017, 63,716 in 2018, 77,410 in 2019 and 46,809 cattle in 2020. Replying to a written question in rajya Sabha, Roy said that a number of steps are being taken by BSF to check smuggling of cattle along indo-Bangladesh border. Which is strengthening the existing security of border outposts and border outposts (BOP) along the international border.
However, a senior CBI official said in Guwahati that the 2,216 km long border from India to Bangladesh is giving a lot of help to cattle and especially cow smugglers. These smuggling of cattle is also increasing the revenue of Bangladesh. The CBI has made a startling disclosure about the smuggling of cow. According to him, a consignment of cows from the country is being continuously delivered out through the Bangladesh border. Even the border security department and the customs are being complicit in this smuggling, the price of cows is fixed on the basis of sal and height. As the breeds of Haryana and up are sold at a higher price, the price of cows in Bengal is comparatively low.
During Eid, their demand and price are high. Because of the Muslim population in Bangladesh, there is more beef-eater, so cows are smuggled from the border of Bengal. At the same time, several senior leaders are also on the agency’s radar. It is almost a whole thing. A large number of cattle are estimated to be smuggled into Bangladesh every year through the 2,216-km Indo-Bangladesh border in West Bengal. Daily cows reach Bangladesh through the kutcha route of malda-Murshidabad border area. The CBI believes that only five per cent of the number of cows smuggled is stopped by bsf Jawans. The rest are either less aware or complicit. The CBI is now trying to disclose the nexus between the syndicate working behind it. The price of cows is fixed on the basis of breed and height. As the breeds of Haryana and up are sold at a higher price, the price of cows in Bengal is comparatively low. During Eid, their demand and price are high. Because of the Muslim population in Bangladesh, there is more beef-eater, so cows are smuggled from the border of Bengal. In addition, we also have a long walk of the legal process, which is directly affecting cows and other cattle. One thing is that animal smuggling in Bangladesh is not considered a crime, but it is a source of revenue for the government there. As india’s smugglers go to the Bangladesh border, they pay for cattle and are called merchants. In Bangladesh, cattle are also sold to other beef-eating countries at a higher price. It is also a source of income there. At the same time, the cattle-related leather industry also has a lot to do. So, by and large, our cattle are contributing to the GDP of the neighbouring country. A senior CBI official said, the CBI has estimated the estimated profit of the smuggling to be more than Rs. 15, 000 crore. Also, there is smuggling from Assam. Cows are sold to the cow smugglers of Bangladesh by crossing the international border.
