Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, May 25: Surankote police rescued 18 bovine animals from Bafliaz area of Mughal Road in tehsil Surankote of district Poonch and arrested two smugglers last night.
Official sources said that a police naka party near Bafliaz in Surankote intercepted three persons carrying bovine animals towards Kashmir valley on foot and intercepted them last night. The police party led by SHO Maroof Mirza under the supervision of SDPO Surankote, Ajay Sharma asked them to produce valid transportation permit. One of them provided permit of carrying 13 animals was allowed to move ahead, while others had no valid documents from Dy Commissioner or SDM.
The two alleged smugglers were arrested and 18 bovine animals rescued. Those arrested were identified as Mohd Taj, son of Ali Mohd, resident of Bera in Mendhar and Naseer Hussain, son of Ghulam Abbass, resident of Bhati Dhar in Mendhar.
Third person namely, Gulam Mohd, resident of Salian in Bafliaz managed to escape. He is believed to be involved in this illegal trade for long.
SDPO, Surankote also spoke to DC Poonch and SDM Mendhar and requested them to kindly specify the number of animals, photograph of the person or persons carrying/ transporting and the date on which the desired person/persons want to move to ‘Dhok’ to other side of Pirpanjal. Moreover, they should cross the police check post Behramgala only during day time between 6 am to 5 pm.
It has been observed that some clever bovine smugglers were using single permit again and again as date of crossing / transportation is not mentioned in some of the permits. SP Poonch Shamsheer Hussain also appealed the district administration to specify the date of transportation and direct these persons to affix their photograph for ascertaining identity for assisting police in its anti-smuggling operation.