Overview

• Assam’s South Salmara BSF unit stopped smugglers on July 23 by firing warning shots that led to the suspects’ escape and abandonment of their cattle, with no casualties.
• Meghalaya’s Garo Hills operation yielded seven arrests, with 43 live cattle rescued, 33 carcasses recovered and wireless sets seized by BSF and state police.
• Seized walkie-talkies in Meghalaya highlight the use of real-time communications by traffickers operating organised cattle networks.
• These raids reflect the BSF’s intensified strategy combining upgraded surveillance with intelligence-led joint patrols to disrupt cross-border livestock trafficking.
• Police say districts such as Dhubri, Sribhumi and Cachar have seen a surge in cattle smuggling attempts in recent years, driving the BSF’s stepped-up deployments.