Bhubaneswar: Cow smugglers have become active once again in the southern districts of Odisha, using National Highway 326 as a primary route to illegally transport cattle to Andhra Pradesh. In a recent incident, local cow protection activists, with police assistance, intercepted a truck carrying cattle under inhumane conditions. A total of 40 cowswere rescued, though six were found dead due to suffocation and poor handling.
According to official sources, the incident occurred near the Airport Chhak area on National Highway 326, within the Jeypore Sadar police limits in Koraput district. The seized vehicle was reportedly transporting cattle from Nabarangpur to Bhadrachalam in Andhra Pradesh. After receiving a tip-off about the illegal transport, activists from a Hindu organisationand local cow protection groups began tracking the suspected vehicle from Borigumma to Jeypore, setting up vigilance points at various junctions.
When the truck entered the Jeypore Sadar police jurisdiction, the activists immediately alerted the local police. Acting swiftly, a police team reached the scene, intercepted the vehicle, and detained both the driver and his assistant. The truck was subsequently taken to the police station for further investigation.
Based on a written complaint filed by members of the Hindu Samaj, police registered a case under relevant sections of the Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act and the Animal Cruelty Act. Of the 40 rescued cattle, 34 were moved to the Panjiaguda Gaushala for shelter and treatment, while six were declared dead on arrival.
During police interrogation, the truck driver revealed that he had loaded the cattle near Nabarangpur and was transporting them to Bhadrachalam. From there, the cows were intended to be transferred to another vehicle for further transport to Hyderabad. The police have arrested the driver and initiated a detailed investigation into the network involved in this illegal trade.
Jeypore Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sachchindra Pradhan confirmed the seizure and arrest, stating that strict action would be taken against those responsible for the illegal transportation of cattle. “The rescued cattle have been safely handed over to the Gaushala, and further investigation is underway to identify the entire smuggling chain,” he said.
Local residents, however, expressed anger and concern over the increasing frequency of such incidents. They alleged that hundreds of cattle are being transported daily along the Nabarangpur–Jeypore route to Andhra Pradesh despite repeated police actions. According to locals, the police conduct brief inspections following public complaints but fail to maintain continuous surveillance, allowing smugglers to resume operations within days.
Citing the Odisha Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act and a directive issued earlier by the Orissa High Court mandating strict enforcement against illegal cattle transport, residents demanded stronger measures. They urged the state government and district administrations to take stringent and sustained action to curb the rising menace of cattle smuggling in southern Odisha.
Activists also called for permanent checkpoints, increased night patrols, and inter-state coordination between the Odisha and Andhra Pradesh police to dismantle the organised smuggling network. Without consistent enforcement, they warned, the illegal trade would continue to flourish unchecked across state borders.
