Kamrup sees a surge in cattle seizures as police intensify crackdown on suspected illegal transport networks
Cattle smuggling has emerged as a major law and order concern across North Guwahati and parts of Kamrup district, with police stations and outposts reporting a series of interceptions involving trucks carrying livestock without valid documents, often under poor and inhumane conditions.
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Over the past few weeks, police teams across Changsari, Dadara, Amingaon, Rangia and other jurisdictions have seized several consignments of cattle allegedly being transported illegally towards Meghalaya. Dozens of suspects have been arrested, while rescued animals have been shifted to registered gaushalas for care.
Changsari Police Station has reported some of the most frequent interceptions. In one operation near Laxmi Mandir, Changsari, police stopped a truck carrying 21 live bullocks concealed under a tarpaulin sheet. The vehicle reportedly had no valid documents or veterinary certificates. A case was registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the Assam Cattle Preservation Act.
The rescued animals were handed over to Surovi Gaushala at Koniha, while a caretaker, Mokibul Ali, 23, from Barpeta, was apprehended.
In another incident, Changsari Police intercepted a truck and a car operating together and rescued 28 cattle. Three persons: Habikur Rahman of Nalbari and Baten Bhuyan and Mohd Saiful Islam of Barpeta were taken into custody. Police also recovered cash and three mobile phones from their possession.
Similar interceptions were reported in the area, with police recovering 18 live cattle from a truck carrying the animals under a tarpaulin cover. The driver, Sariful Ali, 24, from Barpeta, was arrested, and the cattle were shifted to a registered shelter.
In another naka checking operation, police rescued 17 bulls being transported towards Meghalaya and arrested two persons, Taizuddin Ahmed and Jahidul Ali. The cattle were later handed over to a gaushala following court directions.
Buffaloes have also been found in such illegal consignments. In one case, a truck carrying 13 live buffaloes was intercepted on NH-31. The driver abandoned the vehicle and fled, following which police seized the truck and the animals. A petition was later filed before the Chief Judicial Magistrate's court seeking interim custody and arrangements for their care.
Similar incidents have been reported in neighbouring police jurisdictions as well, especially along routes used to transport cattle from Barpeta towards Meghalaya.
Dadara Outpost reported recovering 19 live cattle and one dead animal from a truck travelling from Senga in Barpeta towards 9th Mile area of Meghalaya. Two persons: Saiful Islam and Sahidul Khan of Malipara village were arrested, and police seized Rs 50,000 in cash along with mobile phones.
In another operation, Dadara Police stopped a truck carrying 17 cattle from Kukarpar in Barpeta towards Meghalaya and arrested four persons for failing to produce valid documents. A separate interception at Singimari Chawk led to the recovery of 16 cattle from a vehicle heading towards Byrnihat, Meghalaya, with the driver arrested while a handyman fled.
Amingaon Outpost has also reported significant recoveries, intercepting a truck carrying 24 suspected stolen cattle bound for Guwahati, packed in a manner described by police as extremely cruel. The driver, Md Boga Ali of Nalbari, was apprehended, and a case was registered at North Guwahati Police Station. In a similar operation, the outpost seized 13 suspected stolen bulls and arrested Ainul Hoque of Nalbari and Rafizul Ali of Barpeta, who were produced before the court.
Other police stations have also reported similar recoveries. Hajo Police rescued 13 cattle suspected to be stolen and arrested the driver, Mujjafar Ali of Nalbari, while seizing the truck. Baihata Chariali Police intercepted a 12-wheeler carrying 25 cattle in cramped conditions near Khudrapalaha, arrested driver Anowar Hussain of Darrang, and shifted the animals to a gaushala in Niz Borigog.
Palashbari Police, after a chase, stopped a car and recovered three cattle concealed inside with their legs tightly bound. Two persons from Boko were arrested in connection with the case.
Rangia Police Station has also reported large seizures involving buffaloes. In one operation, officers intercepted two trucks carrying 25 live buffaloes suspected to have been stolen and arrested four persons, including two drivers.
Days later, police intercepted four trucks transporting another consignment of 25 suspected stolen buffaloes towards Meghalaya. Four animals were found dead, while the remaining buffaloes were shifted to a gaushala.
A post-mortem examination was conducted on the dead animals. Five men were apprehended, including a labourer from Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh.
Meanwhile, Mandira Outpost and Goroimari Police have focused on cattle theft cases closer to villages. Mandira Outpost recovered a stolen cow within hours of receiving a complaint and arrested the accused after questioning.
The outpost also recovered three stolen cattle stolen from a paddy field at Dolagaon and being taken towards Dhupdhara Bazaar for sale.
Goroimari Police, acting on specific information, recovered 16 suspected stolen cattle and arrested three persons who allegedly failed to produce ownership or transport documents.
A senior police official involved in the operations said illegal cattle transportation remains a serious concern and that teams are monitoring routes frequently used for such movement.
"Illegal cattle transport is a severe issue and we are very vigilant against it. In many cases we found cattle being transported in a very inhuman and cruel way and we are determined to stop it. We also make sure the cattle are in good care after the rescue. For long term shelter, fodder and veterinary facilities we usually hand the cattle over to registered gaushala and cattle care units for safe custody," the official said.
These district-level seizures are part of a much larger and long-running cross-border cattle smuggling network. India banned cattle exports to Bangladesh in 2014, but illegal trade has continued across Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and West Bengal. The Assam-Bangladesh border spans more than 263 kilometres, with nearly 119 kilometres of it being riverine and unfenced, especially along the Brahmaputra and its tributaries in Dhubri and South Salmara districts.
The Bangladesh Livestock Department estimates that around 1.5 million cattle enter Bangladesh illegally every year, with a significant portion believed to be routed through Assam and Meghalaya. Unofficial estimates value the trade at several thousand crore rupees annually. The demand rises sharply ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, when the Dhubri-South Salmara-Goalpara corridor becomes one of the most active routes for cattle theft and illegal transportation through ferries, trucks and river channels.
The pattern seen in recent Kamrup seizures reflects the workings of an established trafficking network. Investigations have found that cattle are often sourced from livestock markets in states such as Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh before being transported through West Bengal and Assam using forged or misleading documents. Near border areas, local handlers take over the movement, using river routes, sandbars and temporary islands to evade detection. Smugglers are also known to move cattle across the Brahmaputra at night using country boats and, in some cases, conceal animals under other goods consignments. Authorities have repeatedly raised concerns over possible involvement of local networks that help vehicles bypass checkpoints.
The impact of the illegal trade extends beyond cattle theft. Officials have warned that animals transported without veterinary inspections could increase the risk of diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease and anthrax spreading unnoticed. The trade also causes financial losses for farmers and governments while creating wider security concerns, as some illegal routes are also vulnerable to misuse for activities such as arms, narcotics and human trafficking. In some areas, smuggling routes have been found passing through reserve forests and sensitive wildlife corridors, including areas around the Dahikota-Bandarmatha Reserve in Goalpara.
To tackle the issue, the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021 introduced stricter regulations on cattle sale, purchase and inter-state movement, including provisions for vehicle confiscation in smuggling cases.
Enforcement has also been strengthened after the Border Security Force's operational jurisdiction was expanded up to 50 kilometres inside border states in 2021. Security agencies have deployed measures such as floating border outposts, night-vision drones and thermal imaging systems along vulnerable riverine stretches.
District-level coordination between the BSF, Assam Police and the animal husbandry department, along with discussions between Indian and Bangladeshi border forces, is aimed at addressing gaps that cannot be tackled by individual police stations alone. According to reports, Assam Police and the BSF rescued more than 12,000 cattle and arrested over 300 suspected smugglers in lower Assam in 2024, indicating that recent seizures in Kamrup are part of a broader enforcement campaign.
However, it remains unclear whether the rise in seizures reflects stronger enforcement or an increase in smuggling activity during a high-demand period. For now, police stations across Kamrup continue to monitor night movements closely, with trucks carrying cattle remaining under heightened scrutiny.