Bhubaneswar: Two separate incidents of cattle smuggling and illegal slaughter have incited widespread outrage in Odisha’s Bhadrak and Jagatsinghpur districts. In Bhadrak, 18 cattle were rescued in distressing condition from a pickup van, while police in Jagatsinghpur arrested three men after recovering illegally slaughtered beef. Both cases raise serious concerns about administrative vigilance and enforcement efforts in the state.
18 Cattle Rescued from Pickup Van in Bhadrak
According to sources, the incident in Bhadrak occurred within the Dhusuri police limits under Dhamnagar block. A pickup van carrying 18 cattle was reportedly moving illegally towards Barikpur. Local Gosevaks, who had been monitoring suspicious cattle-smuggling activities in the area for several days, received specific information about the vehicle’s movement.
When the Gosevaks attempted to intercept the van, the driver tried to flee. During the pursuit, the vehicle became stuck in the mud near the Korua canal close to the Gobindpur panchayat market. Realising that escape was impossible, the driver abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene.
The local Gosevaks immediately alerted the police. Dhusuri Police Station IIC Ajay Sudarshan Bage promptly arrived at the location with his team. Upon inspection, they discovered all 18 cattle crammed inside the vehicle under extremely inhumane and suffocating conditions.
Police officials and villagers reported that several cattle were severely injured, with two dying on the spot due to extreme stress, injuries, and lack of ventilation. Some of the rescued animals were identified as free-roaming bulls from nearby areas. The surviving cattle were taken to a local cowshed for treatment and care.
Public Anger Over Administrative Lapses
News of the deaths sparked significant anger among local residents, who alleged that cattle-smuggling activities have been increasing steadily in Bhadrak district. Despite repeated complaints, they claimed that authorities have failed to take strong and sustained action to curb the illegal trade.
Cow-protection activists stated that although Odisha has clear laws to prevent cattle trafficking and illegal slaughter, their enforcement remains exceedingly weak. They also pointed out that the Orissa High Court had recently directed the state government to adopt stricter measures to combat cattle smuggling and ensure rigorous monitoring. However, they noted that the situation on the ground remains largely unchanged.
Beef Recovered in Jagatsinghpur, Three Arrested
Meanwhile, in Jagatsinghpur district, tensions escalated after reports of an illegally slaughtered cow surfaced within the Balikuda police limits. A large crowd gathered near Kathagola Chowk after receiving information about the incident. Angry locals staged a protest, demanding immediate action against those involved.
Police teams arrived to control the situation and appealed to the public for calm. Once normalcy was restored, villagers submitted a written complaint at the local police station.
Based on the complaint and preliminary investigation, police arrested three suspects — Mir Shamsher, Safed Khan, and Saeed Zakruddin. Officers also recovered beef from the location. Police stated that all three suspects would face strict legal action and assured the public that monitoring would be intensified to prevent such incidents in the future.
