New Delhi, India (BBN)-The number of cattle seized by the Border Security Force (BSF) at the Bangladesh border in South Bengal has fallen considerably compared to seizures last year.

As per figures obtained by The Hindu, about 81,485 cattle were till November 30, 2015.

In 2014 the number along the same border was about 1,01,571.

During his last visit to the South Bengal Frontier, Home Minister Rajnath Singh had claimed that the BSF had been able to reduce cattle smuggling.

Singh had also claimed that as a result the price of beef has risen in Bangladesh.

The number of those apprehended for smuggling the cattle this year has also gone up, BSF officials said.

The South Bengal BSF guard about 915 km, including 385 km of riverine border, of the India-Bangladesh border from the Sundarbans in south to Malda district in the north.

BBN/SK/AD