Bhubaneswar: In Odisha, cattle and beef smugglers are developing new strategies to evade the police and administration. As authorities intensify their crackdown on these illegal activities, traffickers are constantly innovating ways to transport beef covertly. A recent incident near Khordha has highlighted one such method, where smugglers concealed beef beneath sacks of bran inside a vehicle destined for Andhra Pradesh.
The incident occurred in the Benapanjari area under the Jatni police jurisdiction in Khordha district. Acting on a tip-off, the Khordha Industrial Police intercepted the vehicle and seized three tons of beef.
Police sources indicated that they had received credible intelligence suggesting that cattle or beef was likely being transported towards Andhra Pradesh. Based on this information, surveillance was conducted on suspicious vehicles leaving the region. During the operation, an Eicher truck loaded with beef was tracked after it departed from the Benapanjari area. The vehicle was intercepted by the Industrial Police team on National Highway-16 at Gadakhordha Square, shortly after it crossed the Jatni jurisdiction.
During questioning, the driver initially claimed that the truck was carrying sacks of bran intended for delivery in Andhra Pradesh. However, police officers grew suspicious and decided to inspect the vehicle. Upon unloading the bran sacks, nearly three tons of beef were discovered hidden underneath.
Following the recovery, police seized the truck and arrested the driver, identified as S.K. Zahid (32), a resident of Rasulpur village under the Kakatpur police station in Puri district. Zahid later confessed that he was transporting the consignment of beef from Benapanjari to Andhra Pradesh.
During interrogation, Zahid further revealed that the truck was being accompanied by a group of accomplices to ensure safe passage. However, the escort vehicles managed to evade police interception.
Khordha Industrial Police Station in-charge Basudev Jayasingh confirmed the seizure and stated that samples of the recovered beef have been sent for forensic testing. He also mentioned that the meat has been disposed of in a remote location in the Arang area. Preliminary investigations have indicated the involvement of at least two more individuals in the smuggling racket.
Meanwhile, the incident has sparked public outrage in the locality. Residents expressed their anger, claiming that despite multiple instances of beef seizures in the region, the police and administration have failed to conduct thorough investigations or apprehend the masterminds behind such illegal operations. They alleged that authorities limit their actions to arresting drivers or seizing vehicles while the larger network continues to operate unchecked.
Local social activists have called for a more comprehensive investigation, emphasising that the police must not restrict the probe to drivers or vehicle owners alone. Instead, efforts should be made to trace where the cattle are being slaughtered and to identify the major rackets operating behind the scenes. They urged stringent action against those orchestrating these operations to curb the rising cases of cattle smuggling and beef trafficking in the Khordha region.
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