Cattle smuggling along the Meghalaya-Bangladesh border has seen a sharp spike in July 2025, raising serious concern. The BSF seized 1,535 cattle worth ₹2.26 crore from January 1 to July 21. Notably, 187 cattle worth ₹30.31 lakh were seized in just the first 20 days of July.
BSF IG O.P. Upadhyay attributed the surge to the monsoon, which creates favorable conditions for smugglers. He also flagged issues in East Khasi Hills, where seized cattle remain in BSF custody for nearly a year due to lack of state government action. Around 100 cattle seized in late 2024 are still awaiting relocation.
Violence escalated recently in the Rinku and Betgora areas as smugglers from both India and Bangladesh attacked BSF troops with stones and weapons. Though some personnel were injured, the BSF used non-lethal measures and avoided firing.
