Police busted a major cattle smuggling racket in northern Odisha, rescuing over 300 cattle and arresting 11 accused during an attempted smuggling operation to West Bengal.
The crackdown, which began in Keonjhar, has now spread across more than five districts. On Saturday, police intercepted smugglers moving cattle on foot along National Highway 49 in Baripada. Local residents at Bangiriposi alerted authorities, leading to the arrest of suspects from Bhadrak, Jajpur, and Keonjhar districts. The accused will be produced in court on Monday.
Investigators confirmed the arrested individuals were directly involved in daily cattle transportation. Simultaneous raids targeted locations linked to masterminds behind the network.
Police raided the residence of Surjit Mohanty in Baripada, identified as a key conspirator. Officers seized nearly Rs 33 lakh in cash along with gold and silver ornaments. In Rairangpur’s Tentoposi area, raids at seven houses led to the seizure of four pickup trucks and nine motorcycles. Six people were detained for questioning.
Baripada Sadar SDPO said raids will intensify in the coming days. He confirmed that individuals associated with the racket will face charges under economic offence provisions. Investigators are probing income sources and asset accumulation, as smugglers allegedly masked their illegal trade by posing as dealers in iron rods, cement, and construction materials.
With masterminds identified, police expect more arrests soon. The cattle smuggling racket has exposed a deep network of organised crime in Odisha, raising concerns about cross‑border trafficking routes.
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