RAUTAHAT, JUNE 18

Smuggling of livestock from Nepal to India and vice-versa continues unabated from various border points in Sarlahi and Rautahat in collusion with security forces from both sides due to the porous border.

Rautahat is becoming a hub of livestock smuggling after Sarlahi.

Cows and oxen are smuggled to Bangladesh through India, while buffaloes and their calves are imported to Nepal from India.

Hundreds of buffaloes and their babies are being smuggled to Nepal from Oraiya, Banjara, Mathiya, Latmari, Rampur Khap, Paroha's Narakatiya, Jayanagar and Bodhimai's Bankul, Kopawa, Rajdevi's Brahmapuri of Ishnath Municipality, Rautahat, and Balara, Bahadurpur, Madhuwan, Chhatauna, Tribhuvannagar, Sangrampur, among other places of Sarlahi. The concerned authorities, however, say they are are unaware about the smuggling.

Cattle trader Saila from Chandrapur is learnt to have smuggled livestock to India.

He collects cattle from Chitwan, Makawanpur and other hilly districts and exports them to India wooing security forces with money.

A source said that livestock smugglers fix the setting for cattle export in collusion with security patrol teams.

APF personnel seized a truck and took 17 calves under control at Dudhiyabhar.

APF was directed to contact Saila, owner of calves last week. Cows and calves were released at Dudhiyabhar after the trader Saila did not appear before the APF and the truck was sent to Gaur Customs Office.

The cows and their calves were returned to him later, it is learnt.

SP Binod Ghimire did not comment when contacted.

A version of this article appears in the print on June 19, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.