Cattle smuggling - our concern

Statement

Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM) has observed a sharp decline in cattle smuggling to Bangladesh from bordering areas of Murshidabad district. Recently, the posted Border Security Force made a similar claim. We want to congratulate the BSF and district administration for partial achievement of this cherished goal. MASUM is demanding for an all-out effort to check this malice for a long with an observation that the posted BSF personnel and part of administration are involved with this illegal act along with their brethren from legislation and other duty bearers. Time and again we have pointed that the persons facing brutal assaults from bordering guards and police are from the fringes of the society. Majority of them belong to minority and schedule caste communities and lost their means of sustenance; their lands, in consecutive river erosions for last 35 years. River erosion being the primary cause of their plight has been unattended for years. The spate of erosions pauperizes them and forced a sizeable section to cross border smuggling; irrespective of their age and sex. The administration was being a mute spectator for all these years, not extended any rehabilitation for this perishing populace. The malice further aggravated by shrinking of local labour market. A huge section of the populace is migrating in search of job and livelihood. In this context, we want to share the information regarding the visit of Mr. R. R. Jha, IAS, the then Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs (Human rights), Government of India. He visited the area and met the populace and duty bearers after receiving an instruction from the National Human Rights Commission. For better understanding of the position taken by the Ministry of Home Affairs, GOI, the report should be published.

To gauge the declination of cross border cattle smuggling in bordering areas of Murshidabad district, we made survey on the same and providing a detail on 2 police station areas with the names of specific points of smuggling and names of actual masterminds of these points and the numbers of cattle being smuggled out in an average every day to Bangladesh. Though, the numbers of cattle smugglings are in decreasing order but smuggling of other items; drugs, narcotics, cosmetics, edible oils, human hairs, clothes are still continuing without any check.

Jalangi Police Station Area, district - Murshidabad

Points (Ghat)	Masterminds of the point	Numbers of cattle smuggled each night, two months back
GopalPur Ghat	Khokon Biswas	200-300
Char Bhadra Ghat	Mina Mondal Ajijul Mondal Kuddus Mondal Daud Mondal Bulbul Mondal Suja Mondal	100-150
Farazipara Ghat	Mina Mondal Bulbul Mondal	300-350
Taltali Ghat	Firoz Seikh Absar Mondal	200-250
Dayarampur Ghat	Hannan Mondal Mrinal Biswas Bipad haldar	300-400
Suryanagar and Thakurnagar Colony	Gopal Mondal Tota Chowdhury	300-400
Singpara Ghat	Tapan Haldar Pintu Mondal	400-500
Ramakantpur Ghat	Sania Farid Sahad Ali	500-600
Char Kakmari	Yunus Seikh Madhu Mondal	1000-1200
Dighal Kandi Ghat	Kader Mondal Dabir Mondal Anwar Mondal	200-300

Raninagar Police Station area, district – Murshidabad

Points (Ghat)	Masterminds of the point	Numbers of cattle smuggled each night, two months back
Mahtab Colony	Bhutto Mohsin Molla	2000-3000
Bakkaser Ghat	Bakkas Mondal	4000-5000
Bhatupara (Rajanagar)	Sunil Pramanik Krishna Mondal Kalam Mondal Shibu Mondal Ghatu Mondal Sudhangshu Mondal	600-700
Dadur Ghat	Shibu Mondal Asto Mondal Subodh Daktar	5000-6000
Dr. Sunil Mondal’s Ghat	Sasthi Mondal Bhupen Mondal Mithun Mondal	2000-3000
Baro Swapaner Ghat	Swapan Mondal (Baro) Swapan Mondal	1000-1500
Palpara Ghat	Mohan Haldar Nanu Seikh (husband of a Gram Panchayet Member)	1600-2000
Degree Ghoshpara	Kuran Mondal Banu Seikh Seikh Mohammad Seikh(Pradhan; Katlamari Gram Panchayet)	5000-6000
Kaharpara	Mannan Molla Haydar Ali Ranjit Saha	8000-9000
Ramnagar Ghat	Rafik Mondal Rashid	3000-4000
Harudanga Ghat	Ranjit Mondal Sattar seikh	7000-8000
Border Para Ghat	Sachin Mondal
Char Majhardiyar Ghat	Bhutta Seikh Dulal Mondal	5000-6000
Banamalir Ghat	Banomali Chitu @ Chitta Mondal	6000-7000
Kargil Ghat (adjacent to Kaharpara BSF Camp)	Posted BSF	10000-12000

Though, the cross border cattle smuggling is decreasing from Murshidabad district but it is alarmingly high from bordering areas of North 24 Parganas district. From our preliminary survey we found that in recent time it has increased many folds; from Parali, Bithari, Gobindapur, Hakimpur, Dahar Kanda, Koijuri, Dobila, Arshikari, all are under Swarupnagar police station and Ghozadanga, Nakurdaha, Itinda under Basirhat police station. It is also reported a huge number of cattle being smuggled of from Purba Jaynagar of Baduria Police Station. The continuous movement of cattle from Indian sides of the border to Bangladesh; destroying standing crops and ruining agrarian lands. This resulting a social unrest among the rural gentry and many protests were held by the agitating farmers and agri- labourer.  

We particularly pointed out that the issue has deep connection with State deliverances and not an isolated subject of law and order. To minimize cross border smuggling a concerted effort from State party is required, comprising all of its components and societal realities but the apparatus of state deliverances has ignored its role and a reign of systemic violence perpetuated at the area. We vociferously opined on the involvement of BSF, local police, district administration, custom and excise department and local influential political personalities with cross border smuggling, this has been affirmed by a section of administration and substantially proved by the recent outcome, while the higher ups from posted BSF and district administration took a stringent approach to curb cross border cattle smuggling and communicated the same to their rank and file, the numbers automatically came down. Our survey also put light on the magnitude of cattle smuggling during a couple of month back and this extent of cattle smuggling was totally impossible without the active patronage from posted BSF, police, influential political leaders and district administration.

However, we are appreciating the role of district administration and posted BSF for their achievement on curbing the cross border smuggling, we want to indicate that without giving proper attention on the issues of river erosions, livelihood opportunity, rural employment guarantees, BPL cards, basic deliverances as Antyoday and Annapurna schemes, promotion and extension of human rights practices by bordering guards and police; the achievements would be mislaid very soon. The state is duty bound to rehabilitate, proffer livelihood supports and give justice to its citizen. It is required for building confidence among the populace for its administration and state. It is time now to prove the genuine intention of the state to curb the cross border smuggling. For that it has to initiate proper and adequate actions to prosecute the torturers belong to armed bands of the state and enjoying cushions of impunity.  

23^rd April 2012

--
Kirity Roy
Secretary
Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha
(MASUM)
&
National Convenor (PACTI)
Programme Against Custodial Torture & Impunity
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