Lok Sabha Question No. 2340 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-03
Subject: Cattle Smuggling
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Sukanta Majumdar, Jayanta Kumar Roy, Bhola Singh, Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo, Raja Amareshwara Naik, Vinod Kumar Sonkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2340

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 03 RD  AUGUST, 2021/ SRAVANA 12, 1943 (SAKA) CATTLE SMUGGLING

2340.  DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR:

DR. JAYANTA KUMAR ROY:

SHRI BHOLA SINGH:

SHRIMATI SANGEETA KUMARI SINGH DEO:

SHRI RAJA AMARESHWARA NAIK:

SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR:

## Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  cases  of  cattle  smuggling  along  the  Indo-Bangladesh border that came to light, cattle seized and smugglers arrested during each of the last two years;
- (b) the  remedial  steps  taken  to  check  illegal  trade  of  cattle  operated  in cattle markets/haats along the Indo-Bangladesh border;
- (c) the  length  in  kilometres  of  fencing  of  Indo-Bangladesh  border  which has been completed so far, State-wise;
- (d) the  length  in  kilometres  of  the  border  yet  to  be  fenced  along  the reverine section of the borders along with the target time for completion;
- (e) the number of illegal migrants who have crossed over to India during the last two years;
- (f) whether  there  have  been  reports  of  involvement  of  Border  Security Force personnel in illegal movement of people and animals along IndoBangladesh Border;
- (g) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  action  taken  by  the  Government thereon; and
- (h) the other steps being taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NISITH PRAMANIK)

## LS.USQ. NO.2340 FOR 03.08.2021

## (a): Details  of  cattle  seized  and  smugglers  arrested  on  Indo-Bangladesh border during last two years are as under:

| Year                          | 2019   |   2020 |
|-------------------------------|--------|--------|
| Total number of cattle seized | 77,410 |  46809 |
| Apprehension of Smugglers     | 703    |    460 |

(b): The  Government  of  India  has  adopted  a  multi-pronged  approach  to check illegal  trade  of  cattle  along  Indo-Bangladesh  border  which  inter-alia includes  round  the  clock  surveillance  and  patrolling  on  the  borders  and establishment  of  observation  post;  increase  in  number  of  BSF  personnel; construction of border fencing & floodlighting; use of water crafts/boats and floating Border Out Posts (BOP) for domination of riverine area; deployment of  advance  technological    equipments  like  Hand  Held  Thermal  Imager (HHTI), Night  vision  Device  (NVD),  Twin  Telescope,  Unmanned  Aerial Vehicles (UAV); upgradation of intelligence setup and enhanced coordination with the State Governments/concerned intelligence agencies.

## LS.USQ. NO.2340 FOR 03.08.2021

(c) and (d): About 76% Indo-Bangladesh border has been covered by fence. Details of state-wise fencing along Indo Bangladesh border are as under:

(Length in Km)

| State       |   Total length of International Border |   International Border covered by Fence |
|-------------|----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
| West Bengal |                                 2216.7 |                                    1638 |
| Assam       |                                  263   |                                     210 |
| Meghalaya   |                                  443   |                                     326 |
| Mizoram     |                                  318   |                                     155 |
| Tripura     |                                  856   |                                     812 |
| Total       |                                 4096.7 |                                    3141 |

The balance length of International border will be covered by physical fencing and technological solutions in the form of Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS).

The  riverine  border  which  is  not  feasible  for  fencing  will  be  covered through technological solutions.   A pilot project in Dhubri, Assam along 61 Kms riverine  border  has  been  implemented.    The  Government  is  regularly monitoring  the progress of work.

## LS.USQ. NO.2340 FOR 03.08.2021

(e): Border Security Force conducts regular patrolling, lay nakas, establish observation  posts  and  carry  out  anti-tunneling  exercise  to  stop  illegal migrants. However, some illegal migrants are able to enter in a clandestine and  surreptious  manner,  mainly  due  to  difficult  riverine  terrain  in  parts  of International  border  with  Bangladesh  which  are  not  amenable  to  physical fencing.  The  details  of  foreigners  who  were  apprehended  along  IndoBangladesh Border while attempting to infiltrate during last 2 years are as under:-

| Year   |   2019 |   2020 |
|--------|--------|--------|
| Total  |   1109 |    955 |

(f) to  (h): Whenever the involvement of a BSF personnel comes to light for illegal  movement  of  people  and  cattle  smuggling  along  Indo-Bangladesh border, BSF carries out investigation and appropriate disciplinary action is taken  as  per  the  rules.  Since  2019,  disciplinary  action  against  28  BSF personnel was initiated, out of which 22 personnel have been punished and disciplinary action is in process for 6 personnel.

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