Assam: Rampant cattle smuggling to Nagaland via Dhansiri river throws open challenge to police

At the time when Assam police Director General of Police (DGP) Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta assures tough action against cow smuggling in the state, the state police have been allegedly turning a blind eye to the cow syndicate in Golaghat district.

It is to be mentioned here that earlier the Assam government amended the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021 which empowered the police to enter the house of an accused and inspect, search and seize properties acquired in the last six years with money earned from illegal cattle trade, yet the illegal trade of cattle are flourishing in parts of the state.

Notably, the state government has already taken up stern measures including law for the protection of cows, however, visuals from Golaghat speak a whole new story.

As per visuals received exclusively with India Today NE, Golaghat district has become a massive hub for illegal cattle smuggling.

It has become a matter of concern for the locals in the area after witnessing herds of cows which are been thrown down in the strong stream of the river by the alleged gangs of cow syndicates which are controlled from the Lakhimpur district of Assam.

Herds of cows are been pushed down the Dhansiri river, which runs near Alisiga at Nambor Daigrong Wildlife Sanctuary on National Highway 39 in Golaghat district which is said to be the common route on how the cow syndicate circle often supplies cows to Nagaland.

Further, the cows are collected by the syndicate from different places and stored in the house of one Lal in Lurukihat in Golaghat which is later sent to Nagaland via a small field of Barpathar in Dhansiri sub-division.

Speaking to the media, one of the cattle transporters said, "We work on daily wage and get paid around Rs 2000, these cows are been stored here in Lurukihat at Lal's residence from where to take them every Sunday from Bihora Bazar".

Notaby, the cattle transporter used to get paid Rs 3000 while moving the cattle down the stream from Bihora Bazar in the district thru which the smugglers cross the national highway 39 through the Nambor sanctuary and crossed near Alisiga on the Dhansiri river.

While another transporter said, "Last Saturday I transferred 24 cows and today around 15 now which are transported to Barpathar and I don't know where it goes and we are paid Rs 3000 for each transfer assignment", he added.

Meanwhile, some explosive facts against cow smuggling in Golaghat, as youths from the area who are constantly opposing the illegal trade alleged the business is been controlled from Lakhimpur.

Persons identified as Phool, Abdul, Rahul, Jalil, and Mujibur are the masterminds of this cow syndicate, the anti-corruption youth force alleges.

Earlier, while speaking to the media DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta said, "After a couple of amendments the cattle act has been placed and now rules have also come in place in which a new system has been introduced for transportation of inter-district cattle movement".

"If anywhere, any corruption or activities done against law will be stopped and strong action will be taken," he added.

On the other hand, at the recent SP conference held in Dergaon, DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta said that the Assam police has been tough on illegal cow smuggling in the state, but in Golaghat district, the state police have turned a blind eye towards the cattle smugglers while the state government's enactments go for a toss.