SHILLONG, April 20 (NNN): In a bid to stop the smuggling of cattle, the Hynniewtrep Integrated Territorial Organization (HITO) on Tuesday met G. H. P Raju, the principal secretary of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary department, government of Meghalaya, to lodge a complaint against the unabated cattle smuggling in the region.
Speaking to media persons, HITO president Donbok Dkhar said that the organisation from time to time have received numerous of complaint from whistleblowers and people from the ground that there are a large number of people posing as dalals smuggling cattle and buffalo to Bangladesh by misusing the official challans provided by the department which is actually applicable only in Meghalaya.
“We have also received complaints about the existence of some agents illegal dalals who charge and collect money from trucks with valid challans who are ferrying castles along the highway” said Dkhar.
Dkhar then said that the organisation had recently officially complained to the district administration however this illegal trade continues unabated.
He added that the state is facing shortage of cattle for consumption due to illegal smuggling of cattle to Bangladesh hence animal husbandry and veterinary department should take stern action against anyone involved in such illegal activities.
Donbok Dkhar lamented that in order to prevent illegal cattle smuggling to Bangladesh, the department should move the state government for an official resolution in the assembly to urge the center to include an officially permit export of cattle and buffalo from Meghalaya to neighbouring Bangladesh which will help in generating livelihoods for the public and revenue for both the state and Central government.
“The director general (DG) of the Border Security Force (BSF) recently stated that the Indo-Bangla cattle smuggling is a million-dollar trade that is extremely difficult to totally eradicate, hence we strongly urge the central government through the state to seriously consider legal export of cattle from Meghalaya which will then to a large extent regulate and control this unabated smuggling of cattle and buffalo all along with Assam, Meghalaya West Bengal Mizoram and Tripura,” he added.
