Bhubaneswar: Two cattle smugglers sustained injuries in a shootout with police near city station area in Sambalpur in the wee hours of Tuesday.
As per reports, the smugglers, who were escorting a truck carrying 30 cattle illegally to West Bengal, opened fire on police after being intercepted at a checkpoint. In retaliation, police fired back, injuring two of the smugglers.
The accused sustained bullet injuries—one in his left leg below the knee and the other in his right leg below the knee. Both the accused were rushed to Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences in Burla for treatment.
Police have seized two pistols, four rounds of ammunition, the truck loaded with cattle, and the car used by the smugglers to escort the vehicle.
It is learnt that police action was prompted by a tip-off about the smugglers’ movement. Further investigation into the case is underway.