Bhubaneswar: The courage of cow smugglers in Odisha is now so high that if the police try to stop them while smuggling, they do not hesitate to open fire at them. Such an incident was seen in the Kendujhar district of Odisha when the smugglers opened fire on the police while trying to stop them. During this, an encounter took place between the police and the cow smugglers.
A cattle smuggler sustained critical injuries in an encounter with police forces in Kulabhakuni village under Harichandanpur police station of Keonjhar district today.
Keonjhar police stopped five cattle-laden trucks on a forest road in Kulabhakuni village last night, leading to an exchange of fire between the cattle mafia and police.
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“After receiving information from the source a raid was conducted by Harichandanpur PS staff and the special squad to nab the illegal cattle transporting mafias. Mafias were planning to transport cattle from the Kaliahata side. In this process, during the raid, the vehicles one pickup van bearing registration No OD09-M,4932, one pickup van OD 19-R-5725, one Mahindra XUV, OD02-F-8573, one pickup van OR05-AI-3647, have been seized. Five persons have been apprehended and a total 25 numbers of cattle are rescued, ” said Additional SP, Dillip Nayak.
“During the raid as the illegal cattle transporting mafias were moving from Kaliahota side, the special squad intercepted them at village Pithagola near village Kadua and during the process the mafias were chased and noticed to stop but the accused persons started abusing the police party and started firing to the police party to kill in life. In self-defence, the police party retaliated to save themselves and in this process, one Arif Khan of village Samantatpur, PS Ghatgaon sustained gun-shot injuries on both his legs and received treatment at CHC Harichandanpur, and at DHH Keonjhar, Hospital and then referred to SCB medical Cuttack. His condition is out of danger as per the clinical diagnosis of the medical officer. On the other hand, two Police personnel were also received injury and treated in CHC Harichandanpur,” added Nayak
He also said two numbers of country-made gun (small arms) have also been recovered from them.
Two cases have been registered under various sections of the IPC, Arms Act, and Cruelty to Animals Act at Harichandanpur and Pandapada Police stations in the district.
