Three high-ranking personnel of the Border Security Force (BSF) have reportedly been dismissed in relation to an investigation into the cross border cattle smuggling along India-Bangladesh border. The BSF did not divulge the details of the dismissed officials, however, it reportedly admitted on Friday that the dismissals induced by what was found in the investigation. An investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been going on in the smuggling of cattle along the India-Bangladesh border.
A dozen BSF personnel transferred since September last year
According to reports, Special Director General of BSF Pankaj Kumar Singh informed that apart from the three dismissed BSF personnel, about a dozen other personnel have been transferred since September last year in connection with the trans-border cattle smuggling case. “Three senior officials have been dismissed, 12 have been transferred. Every document and piece of information sought by the CBI has been shared (with it)”, General Singh told reporters in Kolkata. General Singh also denounced the allegations of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) party in West Bengal that the BSF was threatening people in border areas to for vote a particular party in the upcoming Assembly polls in the state.
Arrest warrant was issued against CM Mamata Banerjee’s nephew’s close aide
This year in January, the CBI had issued an arrest warrant against Trinamool Youth Congress leader Vinay Mishra in the cattle smuggling case. Prior to that, the CBI had issued summons to Mishra on four occasions but he failed to turn up before the agency. Mishra is believed to be a close aide of West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s nephew, Abhishek. Last year in December, the CBI had raided several locations in West Bengal including to Kolkata residences of Mishra in connection with the cattle smuggling case. A lookout circular was also issued by the CBI to prevent him from leaving the country.
CBI had arrested the kingpin of the cattle smuggling trade last year
Last year in November, the CBI had arrested Enamul Haque, the kingpin of the cross border cattle smuggling racket running along the India-Bangladesh border. He was arrested by the CBI in Delhi. The agency had also raided the offices of two chartered accountants in Kolkata. A case was filed against Enamul Haque, Anarul SK Mohammad Golam Mustafa and Satish Kumar, who is a former commandant of a BSF battalion.