‘Cow smuggling continues unabated at Mekhliganj Teen Bigha corridor’

Cooch Behar: Cooch Behar’s Mekhliganj Teen-Bigha corridor has become a hotspot for cattle smuggling, with smugglers from Bangladesh crossing the border with ease, often in full view of the Border Security Force (BSF). Despite the visible operations, the BSF still struggles to halt the illegal activity.

This has become a daily occurrence in the area, while such incidents are rare at other borders.

The recurring issue in the region is attributed to its unique geographical setup. The Bangladeshi villages of Angarpata and Dahagram are separated from the rest of Bangladesh by Indian territory.

To provide access, India has allowed a three-section corridor that remains open nearly 24 hours a day, enabling Bangladeshis to travel freely. Allegedly, this corridor is being exploited for cattle smuggling, with cows moved from India into these villages, sometimes under the watchful eyes of the BSF.

Local resident Gouranga Barman explained: “Angarpata and Dahagram are adjacent to Indian villages, and much of the area lacks a wire fence.

Smugglers exploit this open territory and dense fog, moving cows through fence-free sections — sometimes even in broad daylight. Once the cows reach these Bangladeshi villages, they are smuggled to the mainland through the three-bigha corridor. The absence of a wire fence has made it difficult to stop this illicit activity.”

He further stated that Indian citizens have raised demands for stronger border security, including the installation of wire fences, but face resistance from residents of the Bangladeshi villages and the Bangladesh Border Guard, who are allegedly obstructing such measures.

In response to the growing concern, a BSF official assured that all possible measures are being taken to prevent cow smuggling, including the use of night vision cameras to monitor the border after dark.