Two cattle smugglers from Howrah, West Bengal, sustained gunshot injuries during an armed confrontation with Sambalpur police near City Station on Tuesday.
According to police sources, the suspects opened fire on the officers, prompting them to retaliate.
During the exchange, the suspects fired three rounds at the police, who responded with five shots, resulting in bullet injuries to the suspects’ legs. Both individuals were immediately admitted to Burla hospital for medical treatment.
Authorities recovered two pistols and four rounds of bullets from the suspects. Additionally, it was discovered that the smugglers were escorting a cattle-laden truck in a car, indicating their involvement in illegal cattle transportation.
The police had been tracking the illegal cattle transportation network and acted on intelligence suggesting suspicious activity in the area. Investigations are ongoing to uncover further details about the smuggling operation and its potential links to a larger network.
The incident has raised concerns over the persistent issue of illegal cattle transportation in the region, prompting law enforcement to intensify their efforts to combat such activities.
