The Border Security Force (BSF) has made it clear that it has no hand in issuing passes to residents to transport goods along the India-Bangladesh border, but rather, these passes are being issued by local politicians, referring to TMC MP Mahua Moitra’s allegation of BJP leaders facilitating beef smuggling on the border, The Hindu reported.
Moitra alleged that Union Minister Shantanu Thakur’s representatives have been facilitating the transport of beef across the border under the guise of official permits.
She claimed that these passes, purportedly issued on official letterheads and addressed to Border Security Force (BSF) authorities, are being misused for personal gain. Moitra further alleged that individuals associated with Thakur charge money—reportedly Rs 200 per slip—from beef transporters to obtain these permits, which allow for the transportation of up to 3 kilograms of beef.
The controversy has brought into question the role of local politicians, particularly those affiliated with the ruling BJP, in regulating cross-border activities. The BSF, responsible for border security and combating smuggling, has defended the issuance of such passes, citing them as a means to facilitate the movement of essential goods purchased legally in neighbouring markets by local residents.
They emphasize that these measures are intended to prevent inconvenience to legitimate travellers while curbing illegal smuggling activities.
However, critics argue that the system, allegedly devised two decades ago, is being exploited for illicit purposes. They allege that the lack of stringent oversight and accountability has allowed for the abuse of these passes, which were originally intended to streamline the movement of essential commodities.
In response to the accusations, Minister Thakur denied any wrongdoing, stating that he issued a recommendation letter—not a pass—to facilitate legitimate travel for residents of his constituency. He accused TMC-controlled local bodies of withholding such recommendations from political rivals, prompting him to take matters into his own hands.
The issue has also reignited debates surrounding beef consumption and the protection of minority rights, particularly in BJP ruled states where laws restricting cow slaughter are in place. In West Bengal, where beef consumption is legal, tensions have occasionally flared over accusations of vigilantism by self-appointed "gau rakshaks" or cow protectors.