Bhubaneswar: Police arrested seven people for their alleged involvement in cattle smuggling and seized 87 animals from their possession in two north Odisha districts, officials said.
A statement issued by the DIG (Eastern Range) said a special drive against illegal cattle transportation was conducted Sunday evening.
“The drive, carried out in accordance with laws governing cattle transportation, yielded impressive results,” it said.
“The police teams rescued 87 cattle being smuggled in six vehicles and seven cases have been registered in this connection. While 12 cattle were rescued in Balasore district, 75 others were rescued in Mayurbhanj,” the statement said.
The recovery and arrests come close on the heels of a clash that had broken out in Balasore district between activists of an outfit and alleged cow smugglers March 19.
On March 11, at least two suspected cattle smugglers were injured in an encounter with police in Odisha’s Sambalpur. The duo, who suffered bullet injuries, hailed from Howrah district in West Bengal, police had said.
PTI
