Cuttack: In a major crackdown on cattle trafficking, the Cuttack Rural Police rescued over 500 cattle, including cows, oxen, and bulls, from the Baramana Reserve Forest near Karadapalli village under Tigiria police limits on Tuesday.
The operation was led by Cuttack Rural SP Prateek Singh, supported by Additional SP, two DSPs, and four platoons of police personnel.
“We received information about cattle being brought to the forest near Karadapalli for trafficking. During the interception of vehicles on roads, it became evident that large numbers of cattle were being hidden in the forest for smuggling purposes,” said Cuttack Rural SP Prateek Singh.
Acting on the intelligence, a team of senior officers conducted a raid and discovered over 500 cattle hidden in the forest. The rescued animals will be handed over to gaushalas and similar facilities to ensure their proper care.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the cattle were being prepared for transportation to other locations.
“Cuttack Police maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards cattle trafficking. Stringent action will be taken against those involved in such illegal activities,” Singh stated.