HT Correspondent
BISWANATH CHARIALI, June 28: Acting on a tip-off, a team of Sootea Police, headed by Shyamal Jyoti Saikia, officer-in-charge of Sootea PS, managed to apprehend Basir Ali from Kumalia in the southern part of Biswanath on Thursday evening. They recovered seven stolen goats from a Maruti Suzuki bearing registration number AS 32 B 6610. According to reports, a patrolling team of Sootea PS had observed goats inside a new car in Sootea and signaled it to stop. Instead of halting, the car attempted to flee the area. The police team immediately gave chase and caught the car in the Kumalia area. They recovered a total of seven stolen goats and apprehended the thief, identified as Basir Ali, who originally hails from Kumalia. Similarly, Sootea police arrested Yakub Ali from the Ghaigaon area north of Sootea on charges of cattle smuggling on Thursday night.
It should be noted that cases of cattle smuggling and goat theft are increasing in and around the greater Sootea area. Two cows were recently stolen from cowsheds belonging to residents of the Hazarimal area. As the police have intensified search operations against cattle smugglers in and around Sootea, sophisticated thieves continue to employ innovative techniques to steal cattle and goats right under the nose of law enforcement. On Thursday night, two cattle were stolen from the Hazarimal area and another from the residence of Miraz Ali in No 2 Adabheti. Concerned citizens have urged the police administration to maintain vigilance at night and provide extra protection against cattle smugglers.