By NE NOW NEWS
Guwahati: A day after Northeast Now reported allegations of an organised illegal cattle transportation network operating in Assam’s Lakhimpur district, police on Tuesday seized 72 cattle and buffaloes in two separate operations across the district.
In the first operation, police intercepted a container truck carrying 52 suspected stolen cattle and detained two persons during a naka checking drive near Boginadi Police Station on National Highway-15 at around 9:30 pm.
The truck, bearing registration number UP-21-CN-0135, was allegedly transporting the cattle in overcrowded and inhumane conditions, police said.
The detained individuals were identified as Burhan Ali (26), alias Babul, a resident of Boramabil village under Samaguri Police Station in Nagaon district, and Jalal Uddin (27) of Bogamur village under the same police station.
During interrogation, the duo failed to produce valid documents related to the transportation or ownership of the cattle. They claimed the animals had been purchased from Gogamukh, but could not furnish any supporting papers. The truck, the rescued cattle, and the detained individuals were taken to the police station for further investigation.
In another operation conducted a few hours later, police from Chauldhowa Outpost intercepted a vehicle bearing registration number AS25FC5275 on NH-15 at around 12:45 am on Tuesday night.
During the search, police rescued 18 buffaloes allegedly being transported without valid documents.
The vehicle was being driven by Hazrat Ali (21), a resident of Daipam village under Dalgaon Police Station in Darrang district. Two others travelling in the vehicle were identified as Wahidur Rahman (18), also from Daipam village, and Pradip Pegu (47), a resident of Maj Patrichuk village under Ghilamara Police Station in Lakhimpur district.
Police seized all 18 buffaloes and registered a case in connection with the incident. Legal proceedings are underway.
The seizures come amid heightened scrutiny over alleged illegal cattle transportation networks operating from Bangalmara Bazaar in Lakhimpur district.
As previously reported by Northeast Now, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) had submitted multiple complaints between January and February this year to senior Assam government officials, including the Director General of Police (DGP), the Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department, and the district administration.
The complaints alleged large-scale transportation of cattle from Bangalmara Bazaar to Nagaon without mandatory permits, veterinary health certificates, or compliance with livestock transportation norms.
PETA also alleged that cattle were being transported overnight in overcrowded vehicles in violation of provisions under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, the Transport of Animals Rules, and other laws governing livestock transportation.
Documents accessed by Northeast Now showed that despite communications from veterinary authorities and directions for “necessary action”, no FIR or visible enforcement action had reportedly been initiated prior to the latest seizures.
Despite repeated complaints to the Assam DGP, Lakhimpur Police, the district administration, and even direct communication with the Superintendent of Police, Lakhimpur from the from veterinary authorities, no action had reportedly been initiated earlier.