Odisha Police on Saturday carried out a massive crackdown on alleged cattle smuggling networks, conducting raids at 46 locations across five districts and seizing assets worth nearly Rs 50 crore, senior officials said.
The raids were held simultaneously in Bhadrak, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj and Khurda districts early in the morning. The operation involved multiple police teams comprising two Additional Superintendents of Police, five Deputy Superintendents of Police, 25 inspectors, 36 sub-inspectors and assistant sub-inspectors, along with 18 platoons of force.
By evening, police had seized Rs 1.52 crore in cash, gold weighing around 1.13 kilograms, 3.8 kilograms of silver, 23 four-wheelers, 23 two-wheelers, 13 mobile phones and 21 wristwatches.
Keonjhar Superintendent of Police Nitin Kusalkar said that 10 alleged cattle smugglers were arrested during the operation. He said police also identified properties such as houses, land, bank deposits and other assets worth about Rs 50 crore, which were allegedly acquired through illegal cattle trafficking.
“We have apprehended 10 cattle mafias and detected properties worth approximately Rs 50 crore accumulated from illegal cattle trafficking. These assets will be confiscated under Section 107 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita,” Kusalkar said, adding that the raids were still underway and would continue.
The arrested persons were identified as SK Rajan alias Tajudin from Bhadrak, Tipu Sultan, Kunu Sahu, Arjun Sahu, SK Akbar, Nasir and Sipu Sahu from Keonjhar district, and Mrutunjaya Mohapatra, Sujit Mohanty and K Naim from Mayurbhanj district.
Explaining the reason behind the large-scale action, the SP said police had decided to dismantle the smuggling network after a violent incident nearly a year ago. “Some cow smugglers attacked a police van and ran their vehicle over police personnel. After that incident, we resolved to take strict action by arresting those involved and seizing their illegal properties,” he said.
In Bhadrak town, a police team led by a Deputy Superintendent of Police raided the house of a suspected cattle smuggler and recovered more than Rs 70 lakh in cash, gold ornaments, two SUVs and other valuables. Keonjhar Sadar SDPO Sudarshan Gangoi said several cases were already pending against the accused in different police stations, and further searches were continuing.
Police also faced resistance during a raid at Tentoposhi village in Mayurbhanj district, where locals protested the seizure of a four-wheeler. Villagers, including women, surrounded the police team and allegedly deflated the tyres of the vehicle. Despite the obstruction, officials said the drive against illegal cattle smuggling would continue.
