Cattle Chaos – Smuggling Through Famous Cattle Corridor

From the India-Bangladesh International Border: Recently, the International Border Security Force, Border Security Force of India (BSFI) seized more than several hundred head of cattle from various different locations near the India-Bangladesh international border that touches the Indian States, specially – Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and West Bengal, famous as a “Cattle Corrrdor.”

The local administrations of these states also disclosed that based on a tip off, they laid a trap when Bangladeshi smugglers along with their Indian associates were trying to smuggle cattle into Bangladesh. Not only that, the BSF troops cordoned off the suspected area at night. The smugglers, who were taking a huge herd of cattle to Bangladesh through the unfenced area, were challenged by the troops. The jawans lobbed stun grenades, which resulted in the seizure of hundreds of head of cattle.

Local people claimed, “Cattle markets known as – cattle-haats along the international boundary are becoming a source of cattle for smuggling. Although the BSFI has increased its vigil along the international border in view of the increased attempts by smugglers, it is in vain. Sometimes, even, the cattle traders allegedly collected an amount of Rs 800 to Rs. 1,000 each from the mediators, who help the illegal immigrants to sneak into Indian territory, illegally.”

Recently, in a massive drive along the Indo-Bangla international borders of the Indian State Assam’s Dhubri district sector, the BSFI seized as many as 110 head of cattle that were being smuggled to the neighbouring country. BSFI sources added that the drive was conducted by the 71, 67, 57 and 174 Battalion (BN) of the security force, on the night of 1st June and 2nd June, 2017 on various international bordering cattle-corridor areas of the district.

According to information received, the BSFI had made the seizure mostly along the island areas of the international riverine borders of the district and the cattle were about to be sent to Bangladesh.

Demonetisation Did Not Curb Cattle Smuggling

It may be mentioned here that this was the one of the biggest seizures of cattle by any security agency. It was supposed that the demonetisation had curbed cattle smuggling in the district but this seizure again proved that the illegal trade has started again in full swing.

BSFI sources added that recent cattle smuggling is being carried out with the distribution of Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN).

A BSFI jawan was attacked by cattle smugglers in the South West Garo Hills area of another Eastern Indian State, Meghalaya, when he tried to stop them from crossing over to Bangladesh.

Krishna Murthy, a jawan on duty with the 26-BN of the BSFI, was on his usual round, when he saw a group of about five to eight cattle smugglers, whom he tried to stop. The gang, when confronted by the jawan, attacked him with machetes, which resulted in Murthy getting a deep cut at the back of his neck.

The cattle smuggling incidents are expected to rise all across the international border due to the upcoming EID festival.

The famous cattle corridors of the Indian States are – West Bengal State – Coochbehar, Jalpaiguri, Malda, Murshidabad, Nadia and South-24-Parganas districts, in Assam State – Dhubri, Karimganj and Cachar districts, in Meghalaya State – South West Garo Hills, South Garo Hills and Esat Khashi Hills districts and in Tripura State – South Tripura and West Tripura districts.

Cattle Smuggling in India Bangladesh International Border

Year	Total Number Of Seized Cattle	Value Of Seized Cattle, Rupees	Bangladeshi Nationals Apprehended During Cattle Smuggling	Indian Nationals Apprehended During Cattle Smuggling	Bangladeshi Nationals Killed During Cattle Smuggling	Indian Nationals Killed During Cattle Smuggling
2007	1,331,173	687,194,249	—	—	—	—
2008	120,547	540,469,682	—	—	—	—
2009	114,790	830,952,883	—	—	—	—
2010	101,381	649,579,526	—	—	04	04
2011	135,291	569,180,127	01	01	01	02
2012	120724	516,072,720	152	130	03	05
2013	122,000	520,852,192	223	197	04	06
2014	109,999	489,682,748	171	215	04	02
2015	153,602	1,139,189,650	186	419	11	06
2016	168,801	1,142,640,050	209	461	06	03
2017 to May 31	52,080	367,986,932	51	130	00	03

Source : Border Security Force Of India (BSFI).

Note : Data compiled, including the data of the Indian States – Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya, West Bengal and Mizoram, which share or touch the international border of Bangladesh.

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