Troops of the 41st Battalion, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), intercepted a truck carrying 40 buffaloes without valid documentation near the India-Nepal border in Bihar on Tuesday, 28 July 2026, arresting one person after a brief vehicle chase. Two others aboard the truck managed to flee the scene. The animals were reportedly being transported from Bihar to Assam via West Bengal.

How the Operation Unfolded

Acting on specific intelligence inputs at approximately 7.20 am, a joint team from E Company Kadomani Jote and G Company Bhatgaon of the SSB Ranidanga established a mobile check post on NH-327 near Galgalia in Bihar, roughly three kilometres from the nearest border pillar. When vehicles were being screened, a suspicious truck attempted to bypass the checkpoint. Personnel gave chase and intercepted the vehicle.

The truck, bearing registration number WB-57D-9898, was registered in West Bengal. The arrested individual has been identified as Md Khabin Hussian, a resident of North Dinajpur district in West Bengal.

Conditions of the Animals

'There wasn't sufficient space for the animals in the truck, and they were being transported in an extremely inhumane manner,' a senior SSB official said. The overcrowded conditions in which the buffaloes were found have drawn attention to the broader welfare dimension of illegal cattle smuggling operations.

What Interrogation Revealed

During questioning, Hussian reportedly disclosed that the consignment had been loaded from Dagarua in Purnia, Bihar, for onward transportation to Assam. According to the official, the driver allegedly attempted to reverse course upon spotting a police checkpoint near Naxalbari, triggering the chase that led to the interception.

Officials in Bihar said efforts are underway to trace the origin of the 40 buffaloes. There are indications, according to officials, that this was part of an organised racket that smuggles cattle to Assam for illegal slaughter or further cross-border movement. A search is ongoing in West Bengal for the two suspects who escaped.

Assam's Crackdown and the Broader Pattern

The seizure fits into a well-documented pattern of illegal cattle movement through the Northeast corridor. While slaughter of cattle and their smuggling is banned in Assam, violations are frequent — cattle brought from other states reportedly move to Meghalaya or are transported across the border into Bangladesh via Assam.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma recently stated that his government has adopted a 'zero tolerance policy' against cattle theft, smuggling, and the illegal beef trade. Between January and May 2026, police in the state arrested 856 people, seized 4,355 heads of cattle, and registered 425 cases. Over 2,980 kg of beef was also seized during raids in this period, according to Sarma.

The arrested man, the truck, and all seized animals have been handed over to Galgalia Police Station for further legal proceedings. The SSB has also alerted its units to heighten vigilance against illegal movement within their areas of responsibility. Officials said the arrested man has provided vital leads and expressed confidence the broader network will be identified.