Major cattle smuggling racket busted in Assam's Bilasipara, 3 arrested, kingpins absconding

A major illegal cattle smuggling network operating along the Assam–West Bengal corridor was busted after a police operation in Bilasipara led to the seizure of six cattle and the arrest of three alleged smugglers, officials said on Tuesday, February 24. The crackdown has once again exposed the persistent and evolving tactics adopted by cross-border cattle trafficking syndicates in lower Assam.

Acting on specific inputs, Bilasipara Police launched a special operation targeting suspected smuggling routes along National Highway No. 17. During the drive, a Scorpio vehicle bearing registration number AS 01 AU 7975 was intercepted and searched. Police recovered six cattle allegedly being transported illegally.

Investigators suspect that the cattle were smuggled from West Bengal and were being routed towards the char (riverine) areas of Bilasipara, which are often used as transit and shelter points by trafficking networks. Officials said smugglers have been frequently altering their methods and routes to evade law enforcement, indicating the presence of an organized and adaptive syndicate.

Three persons — identified as Sanowar Hussain, Anowar Hussain and Bahar Ali, all residents of Kathaldi village — were arrested from the spot. The accused are currently being interrogated to uncover the wider network involved in the operation.

Police sources revealed that two alleged kingpins of the racket, identified as Hazrat and Joynal, remain absconding. A manhunt has been launched to apprehend them, and further raids are likely in the coming days.