Amidst tighten security measures before the celebration of Independence Day along the India-Bangladesh border ahead, the police maintaining regular patrolling and surveillance in various border areas and during patrolling, police forces rescued 10 cattle heads during an operation based on a tip-off regarding an alleged smuggling attempt at Baijalbari area of Khowai district on Saturday and arrested a suspected smuggler.

Police sources said that  during routine patrolling along the border on Friday evening, police received information that several cattle were being taken through Meghnath Tilla in the Belcherra area with the alleged intention of smuggling them into Bangladesh.

Acting on the information, personnel from Baijalbari police station immediately launched an operation in the area. On noticing the presence of police, several suspected smugglers fled the spot. However, police managed to rescue 10 cattle and detain one person allegedly involved in the smuggling attempt.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Baijalbari police station, Samaresh Chakma said that the cattle were rescued during an operation conducted in the Belcherra area based on a confidential tip-off received while police were patrolling the border.

Police claimed that during interrogation, the detained person admitted that the cattle were being taken for smuggling into Bangladesh. He allegedly told police that three other persons were accompanying him and that they fled after noticing the police operation. Efforts are underway to trace and apprehend the absconding suspects, police said.

A case was subsequently registered against the detained person, and Baijalbari police station sought his remand for the purpose of further investigation. The accused was produced before the Khowai District and Sessions Court on Saturday along with a prayer for police remand.

Police sources said patrolling and surveillance along the border have been further intensified in view of Independence Day. The incident has once again brought to the fore attempts to smuggle cattle across the India-Bangladesh border.