HT Bureau
BISWANATH CHARIALI, May 15: In a significant move to curb cattle smuggling and theft, the Biswanath police, under the leadership of Superintendent of Police Subhasish Baruah, carried out a joint operation along with the Sootea Police at Ghahigaon on the northern outskirts of Sootea on Wednesday.
The operation targeted an alleged illegal slaughterhouse that, according to local residents, had been a key source of growing incidents of cattle theft in the Naduar region.
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As per information provided in the operation, the police recovered a large number of slaughtered cow heads, four daos (traditional Assamese machetes), a knife, a weighing machine, and other tools typically used in cattle slaughtering.
Additionally, 24 live cows suspected to be stolen were also found hidden at the site.
The illegal slaughterhouse was reportedly being operated by Yusuf Ali and his son Injamul Haque.
During the raid, the police were able to apprehend Injamul Haque, while efforts are reportedly underway to trace and apprehend other individuals linked to the operation.
Local sources alleged that the facility was illegally supplying between 15 and 20 quintals of beef daily to surrounding areas, including Sootea, Itakhola, Tezpur, and Biswanath Chariali.
The site had long been suspected to be a hub of illicit cattle-related activities, contributing to a spike in cattle theft cases in the greater Naduar area.
As per the provisions of the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021, particularly Section 4, no individual is allowed to trade in beef or cattle without proper authorization from the relevant department. Moreover, Section 8 of the same Act clearly states that beef cannot be sold within a five-kilometre radius of any Hindu, Sikh, Jain settlement or religious place.
In this case, a Hindu village is located just one kilometre from the site of the slaughterhouse, raising serious questions about how such an operation was being carried out in violation of the law.
Following the raid, a large number of local residents and cattle owners visited the Sootea Police Station, hoping to identify and reclaim their stolen animals.
Many victims who had earlier reported cattle thefts expressed relief at the police’s decisive action and demanded strict legal proceedings against those involved in running the slaughterhouse.
The swift and targeted action by the Biswanath SP and his team has received appreciation from conscious citizens, who had long expressed concerns about the growing cattle smuggling racket in the region. Residents have urged law enforcement to remain vigilant and continue such operations to dismantle similar illegal activities in the future.
The operation marks a critical step in reasserting law and order concerning cattle protection in the area and reflects the administration’s intent to enforce existing legislation rigorously.
Further investigations are currently underway.
