Lok Sabha Question No. 4947 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-23
Subject: Smuggling of Cows
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Arjun Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA Ministry OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY & DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY & DAIRYING LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4947 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23 RD  JULY, 2019

## SMUGGLING OF COWS

4947. SHRI ARJUN SINGH:

Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

मत्स्यपालन , पशुपालन और डेयरी मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a)whether the Government has any details regarding smuggling of cows from West Bengal
- (b) if so, the details thereof:
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor: and
- (d)  the  number  of  States  wherein  the  Union  Government  has  taken  strict  steps  to  check smuggling of cows during the last three years and the current year?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY & DAIRYING (DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

- (a) to (c) As per the information received from Ministry of Home Affairs, details of Cattle smuggled  from  West  Bengal  and  seized  by  Border  Security  Force  and  Sashastra Seema Ball(SSB) during the last 03 years i.e. 01/01/2016 to 31/12/2018 and upto 31 May 2019 are as under :-

| Year                                                           | 2016     | 2017   | 2018   | 2019 (upto 30 th June, 2019)   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------|--------|--------|--------------------------------|
| Details of cattle seized from Indo-Bangladesh Border ( by BSF) | 1,28,440 | 87,378 | 51,592 | 23,208                         |
| Details of cattle seized from Indo- Nepal Border ( by SSB)     | 1521     | 860    | 650    | 661                            |
| Details of cattle seized from Indo-Bhutan Border (by SSB)      | 260      | 127    | 42     | 0                              |

As per the information provided by Anti smuggling unit, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance the no. of cases booked and no. of cattle seized by customs from West Bengal is as under:

| Year                      | No. of cases booked   | No. of cattles seized   |
|---------------------------|-----------------------|-------------------------|
| 2016-17                   | 50                    | 395                     |
| 2017-18                   | 68                    | 432                     |
| 2018-19                   | 08                    | 40                      |
| 2019-20 (upto June, 2019) | Nil                   | Nil                     |

(d) The most affected areas for cattle smuggling is North 24 Paraganas, Murshidabad, Malda, Nadia  and  Dakshin  Dinajpur  in  West  Bengal  and  Dhubri  in  Assam.  The  Ministry  of  Home Affairs, in pursuance to the direction given by the Hon'ble Supreme Court on 12/07/2016, in WP (Civil) No 210 of 2015, constituted a Committee.  This Committee recommended various actions to be taken by various State stakeholders viz State Government and Central Ministries. The recommendation of the Committee, on acceptance by Hon'ble Supreme Court, was sent to all concerned to take action accordingly on 23/11/2017. The Central Government is regularly monitoring the implementation of the recommendations of the Committee.

Further,  following  steps  are  being  taken  by  the  Border  Guarding  Forces    to  prevent  cattle smuggling along Indo-Bangladesh, Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan Border:-

- (i) Effective domination of the borders by carrying out round the clock, patrolling, laying of nakas, manning observation posts all along the International Border and strengthening of existing defences of the Border Out Posts (BOPs).
- (ii) Vulnerability mapping of BOPs and area of responsibility is being regularly done and accordingly, sensitive BOPs are being strengthened by deploying additional manpower, special surveillance equipment and other force multipliers.
- (iii) Erection of border fence on the International border.
- (iv) Installation of Border Flood Lights along border security fence.
- (v) Use  of  water  crafts/boats  and  floating  BOPs  for  domination  of  riverine  area  of International border.
- (vi) Simultaneous Co-ordinate Patrolling (SCP) is being conducted with Border Guard Bangladesh along Indo-Bangladesh Border.
- (vii) Conduct of special operations along the border and in depth areas.
- (viii) Strengthening of intelligence network and coordination with other agencies.

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