Police in Rayagada district intercepted a major illegal cattle trafficking attempt, rescuing 25 cows from smugglers. Acting on a tip-off, police launched a sudden raid and secured the animals.
Officials detained one accused, identified as Sannyasi Ganta of Ghanatari, but later released him after issuing a legal notice. Inspector Bindulata Nayak confirmed the operation and said the rescued cattle were initially planned to be sent to a gosala in Jagannathpur.
However, the absence of any registered gosala in the area forced police to hand over the cows to local villagers for temporary custody. This move has triggered questions about accountability, food supply, and long-term safety of the animals. Concerns have been raised that without proper monitoring, the cattle could face neglect or even be resold illegally.
Local intellectuals and activists demanded transparency in handling such sensitive cases. They urged police to publish an official list of custodians and called on the Animal Husbandry Department to conduct regular health checks.
