Police have launched a strict crackdown against cattle smuggling in border districts soon after the formation of the new BJP government in West Bengal.
The move comes amid expectations that both the police and civil administration will become more active after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, at the first Cabinet meeting on Monday, decided to hand over the required land to the Border Security Force within 45 days, following commitments made by the Union home minister during the election campaign.
In a significant operation, personnel from Gazole police station on Sunday seized three pick-up vans laden with cattle in Malda district.
The incident triggered tension on Sunday afternoon in the Kadubari area along national highway 12 under Gazole. According to sources, several cattle were being transported from Gazole to another destination in the three vehicles. Acting on specific inputs, police personnel along with Central forces conducted a raid in the area.
The vehicles were intercepted and those transporting the cattle were asked to produce valid documents supporting the transportation. However, as they reportedly failed to furnish the required papers, police seized the three cattle-laden pick-up vans.
Sources alleged that touts involved in cattle smuggling collect cattle from various haats (weekly markets) before assembling them at different locations for supply to smuggling syndicates operating along the India-Bangladesh border in North Bengal and adjoining parts of Assam.
Significantly, after the change in government, several allegedly illegal toll collection points reportedly ceased operations in Fulbari near Siliguri and on routes leading to the Hills.
Interestingly, authorities on Sunday also installed a height restriction barrier to prevent heavily loaded vehicles from plying over the century-old heritage Coronation Bridge over the river Teesta at Sevoke, which connects the Dooars region.
Meanwhile, BJP leaders in several localities claimed they have been visiting markets and encouraging traders and footpath vendors not to pay “tax” to groups allegedly involved in extortion.
Some local vendors, expressing dissatisfaction over the alleged extortion, reportedly disclosed the names of individuals whom they claimed had earlier operated under the shelter of the Trinamul Congress.