Fulfilling a key electoral promise, the new BJP government in West Bengal has begun efforts to curb the alleged “syndicate raj” and illegal cattle smuggling in the state. On Sunday, Chief Secretary Dushyant Nariala verbally instructed all district administrations to take strict action against both practices.
During the Bengal Assembly election campaign, the Bharatiya Janata Party repeatedly promised that, if voted to power, it would end the alleged syndicate system and crack down on cattle smuggling. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also reiterated these assurances during several campaign rallies in the state.
The directive issued by Chief Secretary Nariala to all superintendents of police (SPs) and commissioners of police (CPs) came just days after the new government assumed office, signalling that law and order would be a major administrative priority.
“Please ensure that there is no illegal transportation of cattle in the state. Proper checking should be done, and legal action should be initiated. Only legal and licensed cattle haats/markets will function. All illegal cattle haats be closed in your respective jurisdictions,” read the message circulated among senior officers.
The state government also directed district authorities to crack down on illegal cattle markets operating in border districts, including Dinajpur, Malda, Murshidabad, and North 24 Parganas.
During Mamata Banerjee’s tenure, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigated several cattle smuggling cases. The probes led to the arrest of multiple TMC leaders, including senior leader Anubrata Mondal. Despite these investigations, the BJP continued to allege that cattle smuggling remained unchecked in West Bengal.
In addition, officials have been instructed to dismantle alleged syndicate networks operating at the district and block levels, which the BJP claims expanded during the Trinamool Congress (TMC) regime.
The BJP also accused the previous government of allowing syndicate networks to flourish across multiple sectors. According to the party, these groups, allegedly linked to TMC leaders, controlled the supply and distribution of materials from the district level down to local blocks.
After being chosen as the BJP legislative party leader, newly elected Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said the government would implement the promises outlined in its “Sankalpa Patra” manifesto. The latest directives are being seen as among the first major steps in that direction.