BONGAIGAON, May 23 � A driver, who is yet to be identified of a coal-laden Bhutan-bound truck, bearing registration number BP 2 A/3881, died on the spot and its cleaner was injured on Thursday night at Kasikotra under Sidli PS in Chirang district when a cow-laden Meghalaya-bound speedy truck, bearing registration number AS 17/9887, from Bihar hit the former.
The driver and cleaner of cow-laden truck fled the scene before the police could reach the spot.
The truck carried 20 cows, which is a violation of Cruelty to Animals Act because the law allows transportation of only six cows in a truck. The transporter of the cows must have a document certifying that the cows are fit for transportation for long distances, mentioning the halting spots for feeding the cows on way to the destination as per animal welfare laws, an activist of an NGO said.
But the Sidli Police handed over these 20 cows to the alleged smuggler of the cow on Friday without charging him of any offence relating to animal laws, local people and NGO activists alleged. The local people smelt a fishy deal between the police and alleged smugglers of the cows in this case.
It may be mentioned that Sidli residents are witness to several road mishaps caused by these cow-transporting trucks on the highway at night. These trucks pass through the highway at night at high speeds endangering other vehicles on the highway.