Baripada: In a significant crackdown on illegal cattle transportation, the Mayurbhanj district police rescued 105 cattle and seized four trucks during a night patrolling operation in wee hours of Wednesday.
The joint operation was conducted by personnel from Rairangpur Rural Police Station, Hatbadada Outpost, Badampahar Police Station, and Town Police Station.
According to sources, the trucks were intercepted from different locations including Kargil Chowk, Padhiha, Kusumi, and Bhagabandhi. Three truck drivers were arrested during the operation, while one managed to flee the scene and is currently absconding.
Among the 105 cattle rescued, three were found dead. The deceased animals were later buried near Hatbadada. The rest of the cattle are being sent to gaushalas (cow shelters) in neighboring Jharkhand, including the Chakulia Gaushala and the Bakratala Gaushala near Karanjia.
Three of these trucks were confiscated by the Badampahar Police, while the fourth was seized by the Rairangpur Rural Police. Cases have been registered at both Rairangpur Rural and Badampahar Police Stations.
Rairangpur SDPO Gokulananda Sahu confirmed the arrests and stated that further investigation is underway to identify others involved in the illegal transport network. He added that more arrests may follow.
The operation was led by SDPO Gokulananda Sahu, IIC K.K. Hembram, outpost officer Panchanan Mohanty, Raghunath Dehury, SI Sunaram Dehury, Santosh Kumar Soren, and teams from multiple police stations including Hatbadada Outpost and Town Police.
This crackdown is part of the district police’s intensified vigilance against illegal cattle smuggling, especially through border routes leading to neighboring states.
