Sribhumi: 5 Held Over Alleged Cattle Smuggling Link, 4 From Bangladesh

Four Bangladeshi nationals and an Indian man were detained during a police operation in Sribhumi district late on Monday night (September 21), with police alleging that the group was involved in cattle smuggling across the India-Bangladesh border.

The operation was carried out by a team led by Sribhumi district border police DSP Mukut Kakoti and Badarpur Police Station officer-in-charge Manas Pratim Bora. Acting on a tip-off, police conducted a raid in Mahakal village under Badarpur police station and detained the four Bangladeshi nationals.

The Indian national, identified as Fazal Uddin of Jagadishpur village in the Katigorah area of Cachar district, was also detained on allegations of being involved in cattle smuggling.

The four Bangladeshi nationals have been identified as Rezaul Karim, Sabbir Ahmed, Russell Ahmed and Hasan Ahmed Tahim, all reportedly from Zakiganj in Sylhet district of Bangladesh.

According to the preliminary investigation, police suspect that the four men entered India illegally through the India-Bangladesh border near Tukargram, allegedly with the intention of collecting cattle from India and smuggling them back into Bangladesh. The allegations are part of the ongoing investigation and have not been established in court.

The arrests have also raised questions about how the men allegedly crossed the border fencing and moved into Indian territory without being detected.

Sribhumi Police are investigating whether others were involved in the alleged smuggling network and whether anyone assisted the accused in crossing the border. Further details are expected as the investigation progresses.