BSF arrests beef smugglers at Meghalaya border

Four Bangladeshi nationals and an Indian trader were arrested in the Northeast Indian state of Meghalaya’s West Jaintia Hills district, for attempting to smuggle 300 kgs of beef through the Muktapur area.

Border Security Force (BSF) sources of Meghalaya Frontier confirmed the matter to Dhaka Tribune.

“On Wednesday night, a BSF party intercepted a vehicle near Muktapur, on the edge of the Indo-Bangla border, and apprehended five persons. A total 300kg of beef worth Rs90,000 was seized from them,” BSF sources said.

“The smugglers were handed over to the West Jaintia Hills district police on Thursday,” sources added.

BSF sources further said the Bangladeshi nationals have been identified as Noor Islam, 45, Abdul Kalam, 18, Sohel Ahmed, 26, and Kamal Miya, 38, while the Indian trader was identified as Samuel Lyngdoh, 49.

Sources also explained that some of the cattle were slaughtered by the smugglers, as all of them were not in condition to be smuggled through the rough and rugged terrain.

The Northeast Indian state of Meghalaya shares a 443km border with Bangladesh.