SHILLONG:
Minister in-charge Animal Husbandry & Veterinary department, Sanbor Shullai, on Monday warned of stern action against officials and staff of the department indulging in extortion while checking documents of vehicles carrying cattle into the state.
“Be it police or officials of the veterinary department, immediately we will file FIR and initiate departmental action by suspending them,” Shullai told reporters after receiving a complaint from a delegation of the butchers association.
He, however, said the department cannot take action without any proof. “I told the delegation that henceforth their complaint should be backed with documentary proof. I have suggested that they take video clippings of such incidents.”
Principal Secretary in-charge of the department GHP Raju said collection of money by the temporary check gates set up by the department is an ‘extortion’.
“I request all local traders that if any person on checking duty demands money from them to please inform so that we will initiate an FIR against him for extortion,” he said.
According to him, the check gates are on an experimental basis to check documents relating to the health and destination of the cattle.
“If there is any money demanded by any of these check gates please inform the department officials and we will initiate disciplinary action against erring officials because the department is here to facilitate our own traders and if they are put to any inconvenience by any of the departmental officials or by private individuals we will take action against them,” he said.
Raju further informed that the DGP had issued a clear instruction to all the SPs to facilitate the transit passes of cattle into the state.
He also expressed concern over the detection of the scanned copies of the transit passes issued by the department at these check gates.
“The department is very generous at issuing the transit passes at zero cost yet some unscrupulous elements resort to the scanning of permits which is a criminal offence,” he said.
Meanwhile, the minister informed that soon a joint meeting between the Meghalaya government and Assam government will be held to discuss cattle smuggling.
“Also very soon we will also have a joint meeting with the BSF and the police department to intensify the checking within the state, especially in border areas to detect illegal smuggling of cattle,” he said.
Highlighting the steps taken to address problems faced during transportation of cattle from outside the state, Shullai said the Meghalaya government has taken immediate steps to ensure hassle free transportation of cattle from other states to Meghalaya and to prevent any kind of harassment to traders.
He informed that a DO letter was also written to the chief minister of Assam requesting for his interventions and to facilitate hassle free transportation of cattle from other states to Meghalaya.
“A series of meetings held with officials of Assam to ensure that cattle traders do not face any problem while transporting cattle through Assam”, he said.
Meanwhile, Shullai said the department has also started issuing transit permits for transporting cattle from outside the state to Meghalaya.
He said 53 applications have been received so far for the issue of Transit Permits and 370 Transit Permits have been issued to genuine local traders, dairy cooperative societies and others.
“TPs has been issued to all 53 applicants while another 173 were renewed after expiry of validity. Therefore, allegation on not getting transit permits is denied. The department has been granting TPs expeditiously to genuine traders,” he said.