Shillong: The Hynñiewtrep Integrated Territorial Organisation (HITO) has issued a stern warning to the Meghalaya government, urging it to take “urgent and uncompromising” action against the state’s rampant livestock smuggling and unregulated meat imports. In a sharply worded letter to Minister for Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, A.L. Hek, the organisation expressed its “deep concern” over the unchecked trafficking of cattle, poultry, and other livestock, a trade it claims is jeopardising the state’s economy, public health, and rule of law. HITO pointed to the alarming scale of cattle smuggling to Bangladesh, citing frequent seizures by the BSF Meghalaya Frontier as evidence. The group further alleged that the clandestine entry of poultry and piggery products is being facilitated by a network of smugglers and local agents, with the “connivance of certain police elements.”
The organisation has identified Byrnihat in Ri-Bhoi district as a major hotspot for the illegal trade, claiming there is no effective government mechanism to regulate imports or monitor transit. HITO also highlighted the significant socio-economic fallout, noting that many local youths are abandoning education for the quick financial gains offered by smuggling. To combat this menace, the group has put forth a series of demands to the government, including the establishment of permanent check gates, compulsory veterinary health checks, deployment of mobile inspection squads, and the imposition of harsh penalties on offenders and complicit officials. HITO has also called for community awareness and alternative livelihood programmes to steer youth away from the illegal trade. The organisation has made it clear that if the government fails to act, it will take matters into its own hands, conducting independent inspections and investigations to expose smuggling routes and official negligence. “This is a matter demanding urgency, not prolonged deliberation,” the letter concluded, underscoring that the very health, economic integrity, and rule of law in Meghalaya are at risk.
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