Berhampur: Bhanjanagar police continued their crackdown on cattle smuggling for the second day on Monday, arresting five persons and rescuing 58 animals near Daha Road in Ganjam district.
The accused were identified as Narayan Nayak (19), Sudam Naik (19), Daya Naik (52), Niranjan Naik (38), all residents of Lathipada near Sorada, and Anil Naik (19) of Kulangi under Gangapur police station limits. They were booked under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. With this, the total number of cattle rescued in the last two days has reached 128, and the total number of arrests has gone up to six.
Acting on a tip-off, a police team raided the canal road near Daha on Monday. The accused were caught transporting the cattle illegally towards Ranaba near Sorada. “The accused persons might have selected the canal road to take the cattle instead of the main road to avoid the police,” said Jeebananand Jena, inspector in-charge of Bhanjanagar police station.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the accused had gathered the cattle from various areas in Kandhamal district. They failed to provide any documents proving ownership of the animals. Police suspect that from Sorada, the cattle were intended to be smuggled to other states.
Following their rescue, veterinary doctors in Bhanjanagar conducted a health check-up of the cattle. The animals were later entrusted to a charitable trust in Karchuli, near Buguda, for care.