BY TC News Desk
Agartala: Animal Resources Development Department (ARDD) Minister Sudhangshu Das on Wednesday demanded Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha and Director General of Police Amitabha Ranjan to take strict action against a section of police personnel who are purportedly engaged in the smuggling of animals in the state.
The statement of Minister Das came when he intercepted a small bolero good-laden truck that was carrying cattle in a wrongful way.
“I was en route to Ambassa in Dhalai district for attending a program and all of a sudden I observed that a person was carrying around 12 cows in a small bolero good-laden truck. We intercepted the truck and checked the document in which it was mentioned about 13 cows. But we received so many complaints that people who generally carry cattle used to theft cows from the road too. And I will not hesitate to say that a section of police personnel are also engaged with the smugglers who smuggle cattle as today the truck which I intercepted has crossed many naka points. But how police released the vehicle without checking?” said the Minister.
Demanding strict action, the minister said, “I want to request the Chief Minister who is also home minister and DGP to carry out a proper inquiry on this matter and to take strict action against the police persons who will be found engaging with such activities. I have no objection if anyone doing cattle business but they have to do it by maintaining all laws. Being an ARDD minister it is my moral responsibility to protect the animals’ lives and this is why I have intercepted the truck as the condition of this cattle was very pathetic the way they were carrying them in a very wrongful way”.
