SSB chief receives award from Humane Society International

KOLKATA: He has never been an officer who sat back and allowed things to remain as they were. When in charge of correctional homes in West Bengal, he gave top priority to human rights and reform and rehabilitation of inmates. Later, when in charge of the Border Security Force (BSF) in India's eastern theatre, BD Sharma not only helped improve ties with Bangladesh's border guarding force Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) but won the hearts of people in the neighbouring country by ensuring education for an illegal immigrant's child and finally sending her back home.
It was through Sharma's efforts that the BSF and BGB started organising programmes at the international check post at Petrapole, showcasing the common heritage and culture shared by people on both sides of the border. It didn't come as a surprise when this 1980 batch IPS officer from the West Bengal cadre, who was born in Rajasthan's Churu, cut his own CD of Rabindra Sangeet. Recently, Sharma, who is now director general of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), received the prestigious Leadership in Animal Welfare Award 2015 for outstanding services to animals through law enforcement from the Humane Society International (HSI), India.
Sharma received the award from the Union minister for women and child development Maneka Gandhi in the presence of Andrew N Rowan, CEO, HSI. Sharma received the award for his efforts in preventing the smuggling out of birds and animals from India to Nepal for sacrifice during the Gadhimai Mela. The DG dedicated the award to SSB personnel which checked all vehicles crossing over into Nepal for animals and birds.
The Gadhimai Mela is held in Nepal close to the Indo-Nepal border at Raxaul. According to legend, Bhagwan Chaudhary, a landlord from Baryarpur in the Bara district of Nepal was imprisoned at the Makwanpur Fort Prison when he had a dream that Goddess Gadhimai would sort out all problems in return for a blood sacrifice. Chaudhary returned to Bariyarpur and sacrificed five animals as panchbali. These included a buffalo, pig, goat, chicken and rat. Every five years, people from Nepal and India (particularly the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh), flock to the Gadhimai temple to witness the rituals and sacrifice animals. This has been going on for nearly 250 years.
"It is estimated that during the 2009 Mela, five lakh animals and birds, including buffaloes, pigs, goats, chicken and rats were sacrificed. There were a lot of protests from animal rights groups from across the world. After efforts by the SSB, the figure dropped to about 35,000 in 2014," a senior SSB officer said.