Malkangiri: In a significant operation on Tuesday, police successfully apprehended three individuals and rescued 31 cattle from a container truck in Govindapalli village under Mathili police limits.
The operation was carried out following a tip-off about illegal cattle smuggling. Acting on the information, police conducted vehicle checks along the 326 National Highway near the Govindapalli outpost.
During this inspection, they intercepted a truck heading towards Nabarangpur from Andhra Pradesh.
The operation was led by Padman Pujari, Officer in Charge of the Mathili Outpost Police Station, along with his team. The authorities seized the truck and arrested the driver along with two other individuals involved in the illegal activity.
Local residents voiced concerns about the increasing incidents of cow smuggling in the region.
A social worker stated, “Cow smuggling is on the rise and smugglers are exploiting cattle for various illegal purposes. The presence of cows in villages is dwindling, and the situation is leading to growing unrest in South Odisha.”
One local resident further explained, “In Odisha, cows are typically bought for around eight to ten thousand rupees, but in neighboring states like Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad, and Telangana, the cattle are slaughtered and their meat, bones, and skin are sold for substantial sums.”
