Police in Sundargarh district arrested eight youths who posed as cow protection activists but were actually safeguarding illegal cattle smugglers.
Acting on a tip-off, police learned that around 150 cattle were being smuggled from Chhattisgarh to Khata Kurabahal in Kutra block. Under the direction of SP Amruta Pal and supervision of SDPO Bibhuti Bhushan Bhoi, Baragaon police raided the Jarangloi area late Thursday night.
Police arrested eight men identified as Aravind Sadangi (19), Mohammad Kais (22), Krushnachandra Barik (29), Ajit Banchur (32), Keshab Bayasatia (30), Dilip Kumar Barik (42), Sitaram Nayak (42), and Santosh Dehuria (51). Officers seized two cars, two guns, ten live rounds, one knife, and eight mobile phones.
Authorities rescued 105 cattle from the smugglers and shifted them to Amgubha Gaushala. The arrested accused were produced in court. Police revealed that the group collected money from smugglers in exchange for protection, exposing their double-faced role in the illegal trade.
