Assam: Hajo police rescue 28 stolen cattle, arrest six in major smuggling bust

Guwahati: Police in Assam's Hajo rescued 28 stolen cattle and arrested six individuals on Thursday, Kamrup police confirmed.

“Our team acted on reliable input and moved quickly. The suspects could not produce any valid papers, so we took immediate action to prevent the illegal movement of cattle,” a senior police officer said.

Hajo Police intercepted three vehicles in connection with the cattle-smuggling case.

Six persons were detained after they failed to provide valid ownership or transport documents.

Police said that legal proceedings have already begun, and the detained individuals are being questioned to identify any wider network involved in the smuggling.

Authorities note that organised cattle theft and smuggling is a recurring issue in Assam.

They say it is not solely a local issue but a cross-border challenge involving illegal routes leading to Bangladesh.

A district-level officer noted, “Cattle smuggling is not isolated. Many such cases have direct or indirect links with international routes. That makes it a deeper law-and-order concern requiring coordinated intelligence.”

Hajo Police are investigating possible cross-district and cross-border connections.

Intelligence units may be involved to track financial and logistical links.

Additional patrolling along known smuggling routes is planned in the coming days.

Another official said, “We are tightening surveillance because this is one of the major issues affecting Assam. The international angle makes it even more sensitive.”

With the recovery of 28 cattle and the arrest of six individuals, the operation is considered a success in addressing the organised network involved in the case.