Bengal govt orders crackdown on cattle smuggling, unauthorised markets to be shut
Two days after taking office, the West Bengal government ordered police to close all unauthorised cattle markets and tighten border surveillance. The move marks the first concrete step on the BJP's poll promise, as Amit Shah said smuggling would become impossible in the state.
Two days after swearing in, the BJP government took strong measures to put an end to cattle smuggling in West Bengal. The state administration issued major directives on Monday, asking police officials to shut down all unauthorised cattle markets with immediate effect.
In addition, the West Bengal Police has been asked to increase surveillance in sensitive areas, especially along the border, to dismantle the smuggling networks and their operations. State-based enforcement agencies have been asked to monitor illegal transport and trade networks.
Further, the police have been told to take strict action against people found to be associated with smuggling networks or operations.
Ending the alleged cattle smuggling network had long been on the BJP’s poll agenda. The party often accused several leaders of the Trinamool Congress of being associated with the alleged smuggling networks. TMC leaders like Anubrata Mondal (the district president of the Trinamool Congress in Birbhum) came under the radar of central investigative agencies for their association with smuggling networks. He was first arrested and then granted bail in the Supreme Court.
'NO CATTLE SMUGGLING IN BENGAL'
The latest direction by the administration can be seen as the first concrete measure by the BJP government in line with its poll promise, something that the Union Home Minister Amit Shah had vouched for a few days ago.
On May 8, Shah, while speaking at the BJP’s legislative party meeting held at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre, said that cattle smuggling would now be impossible, as the BJP has assumed power across eastern and northeastern India.
“With the BJP governments in power in Assam, Tripura, and now in West Bengal, the borders will be secured, and cattle smuggling and infiltration would be impossible now in West Bengal,” Shah said after announcing the name of Suvendu Adhikari as the Chief Minister of West Bengal.