Guwahati: Four Bangladeshi nationals and an alleged Indian cattle smuggling intermediary were detained during a late-night operation in Sribhumi district, police said on Tuesday.
According to police, the four Bangladeshi nationals were allegedly involved in cattle smuggling and had entered India through the India-Bangladesh border with the intention of transporting cattle illegally back to Bangladesh.
The operation was carried out late Monday night at Mahakalgaon in Badarpur by a team led by Sribhumi District Border Police DSP Mukut Kakati and Badarpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Manas Pratim Bora.
Police detained the four Bangladeshi nationals along with an Indian national suspected of facilitating the alleged cattle smuggling operation.
The detained Bangladeshis were identified as Rezaul Karim, Sabbir Ahmed, Rachel Ahmed and Hasan Ahmed, all residents of Jakiganj village in Bangladesh’s Sylhet district.
The Indian national was identified as Fazal Uddin, a resident of Jagadishpur village under the Katigorah constituency in Cachar district. Police suspect him of serving as an intermediary for the alleged cattle smuggling network operating in the area.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the group allegedly entered India through the Tukergram border area before attempting to facilitate the illegal movement of cattle from India to Bangladesh.
The incident has also prompted police to examine how the four Bangladeshi nationals allegedly crossed the international border and travelled through the area without being detected.
Sribhumi Police have launched an investigation into the alleged border crossing and cattle smuggling network. Officers are also probing whether other individuals were involved and examining the role of the alleged Indian intermediary and his possible links to the network.
Further details are awaited as the investigation continues.