Curb cattle-smuggling completely along Bangla border: Rajnath Singh to BSF

NEW DELHI: Government today urged the BSF to ensure a total clampdown in cattle-smuggling incidents along the India-Bangladesh frontier while acknowledging that a 70 per cent decline has been recorded in this criminal activity this year thanks to the efforts of the border guarding troops.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, while taking salute at the 50th Raising Day celebrations of the force here, complimented the troops for ensuring effective curb on this cross-border menace, and added that the respect for the troops of this historic force has grown in the entire country for accomplishing this task.

"The steps you took to stop cattle smuggling along the India-Bangladesh border have brought a sharp decline in (the instances of) cattle-smuggling and your respect has grown in entire India (due to this)...from April this year till now, these instances have come down by 70 per cent. I am assured that this force will be successful in curbing cattle smuggling hundred per cent," he said.

The minister said many delegations from various parts of the country had met him in the past and congratulated him for bringing down the menace of illegal transport of cattle, but, he said, "I want to convey these good wishes to you (Border Security Force personnel)."

It was the same occasion last year here when the Home Minister had asked the personnel and officers of this largest border guarding force of the country to mount effective vigil and stop cattle-smuggling instances which have become rampant along this frontier.

The minister early this year addressed the troops of the force at a border camp in South Bengal frontier and not only complimented them for checking animal smuggling but reiterated that these efforts need to be more effective.

The BSF guards the 4,096 km Indo-Bangla border which is interspersed with riverine, dense forests and hilly terrains.

He also lauded the force for giving a "befitting reply" against ceasefire violations along India's border with Paksitan.