The Assam veterinary department has been tight-lipped on a pig-laden tru-ck allegedly entering through Shirampur gate en route to Nagaland amid the ban on transportation of pigs due to swine fever.

Srirampur checkgate is on the Assam-Bengal border.

An order from the department of animal husbandry and veterinary department on April 26 ruled that transportation of pigs from outside the state is prohibited and the transportation of live pigs or pig meat/products outside the state is prohibited with immediate effect.

“We didn’t receive any input regarding a truck laden with pigs entering Srirampur gate,” state animal husbandry and veterinary director Pulin Das said.

Sources in the department said a truck approached Sirampur gate on Monday and department officials didn’t initiate formalities as normally done for trucks.

“Officials didn’t take note of the truck number, its owner and where it is coming from. We take note of details of a particular vehicle when we give them clearance certificate to enter the gate. We don’t know the truck’s whereabouts,” a veterinary official said.

“A truck from Punjab approached the gate two to three days ago. It was allowed to enter and travel to Nagaland. The truck had valid documents,” Kokrajhar superintendent of police Rakesh Roushan said.

Vehicles bound for Nagaland upon entering Shrirampur checkgate pass through Guwahati, Nagaon and Golaghat in Assam.

Sources also said pigs were also seen in Dimapur railway station on Tuesday and that pigs were brought to the state via rail on Monday.

Northeast Progressive Pig Farmers’ Association President Manoj Basumatary said the association will move the state government for a complete a ban on movement of pork meat in Assam.

Leader of opposition said Debabrata Saikia pigs should not be imported without prior medical examination.

According to the data available with the veterinary department till Wednesday, Sivasagar recorded death of 1,148 pigs, Dhemaji recorded 616, Lakhimpur recorded 311, Biswanath Chariali recorded 118, Dibrugarh recorded 107 deaths and Jorhat recorded 13.