Shillong, Nov 20 (UNI) The rampant smuggling of cattle to Bangladesh through the international border that Meghalaya shares with the neighbouring country are also linked to drug smuggling, a Border Security Force (BSF) official said on Friday.

Study on cattle smuggling also revealed that it is linked with drug smuggling in the State and the money generated through this smuggling is used for funding remnant insurgent groups active in Meghalaya,” U.K.Nayal, the spokesperson at the BSF Meghalaya Frontier Headquarters

here said.

“Cattle smuggling from Meghalaya to Bangladesh has re-surfaced and is increasing, especially from East Khasi Hills, West Jaintia Hills and East Jaintia Hills districts of the State which share a border with the neighbouring country, the BSF official stated in a statement.

To prevent such illegal activities, Nayal said the BSF Frontier Headquarters Meghalaya had formed special teams to carry out intelligence-based operations in these areas close to the International Boundary.”

“In a series of such operations, on Friday the Border Security Force apprehended six Indian nationals near Dawki, West Jaintia Hills district, who were involved in cattle smuggling and seized as many as 53 cattle in different operations conducted,” he said.

Nayal said a truck was also seized during the drive on which the cattle were transported in contravention to Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act.

“The preliminary questioning report of arrested persons revealed that these cattle were transported from Guwahati (Khanapara) and comprised of various cattle breed which is generally not found in Northeastern states,” he said.

“They (smugglers) also disclosed a new modus operandi adopted while transporting these cattle to deceive police personnel on duty at various check points including inter-state boundaries along the National Highway,” Nayal informed.

“To tackle this menace, the BSF has again urged the concerned authorities of the State to conduct joint operations in these areas and also place check points at suitable locations,” the BSF underscored.

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