Illegal cattle smugglers have been arrested in Lakhimpur district a day after Northeast Now reported on an illegal cattle smuggling ring. A total of 72 cows and bulls were seized and five people were arrested by the police in two separate raids in the district on Tuesday. Operations on NH-15 have revealed a large illegal cattle smuggling ring in the area
According to police sources, the first raid was conducted at a checkpoint near Bagindi police station around 9:30 pm. The vehicle was seized while transporting 52 suspected stolen cows in a container truck (UP-21-CN-0135) in inhumane and unsanitary conditions. The deceased are Burhan Ali alias Babul (26) of Barmabil village of Chamguri police station and Jalal Uddin (27) of Bagamur village. The two men claimed to have bought cows from Gogamukh but failed to show any valid documents. Police have taken the cattle truck and the duo to the police station for further investigation.
A few hours later, another vehicle (AS 25 FC 5275) was intercepted on NH-15 at 12.45 pm by a team from Chouldhawa police station. Police recovered 18 bulls smuggled without any valid documents. The deceased are Hazrat Ali (21) of Daipam village of Dalgaon police station, Wahidur Rahman (18) of the same village and Pradeep Pegu (47) of Maj Patrichuk village under Ghilamara police station of Lakhimpur district. In this incident, the police seized the bull and filed a case.
Illegal cattle smuggling ring in Lakhimpur’s Bangalmara market has been reported by Northeast Now. Earlier, in January and February this year, PETA filed several complaints with the Assam Director General of Police, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department and the district administration. The deceased have been identified as 19-year-old Arun Kumar (19) and 18-year-old Arun Kumar.
No case or strict action has been taken against them despite repeated instructions from Animal Husbandry Department and communication with the administration. However, the action of the police after the incident was revealed in the media is particularly significant. Legal action is pending against all the accused and the seized cattle have been kept in police custody.
