Berhampur: Police on Sunday busted an alleged cattle smuggling racket and rescued 70 heads of cattle near Muzagarh in Ganjam district.
Accused, Manu Nayak (34) of G Rambha, was arrested while he was taking the animals to the cattle market. A motorcycle was seized from him, police said.
“Initial inquiry revealed that the accused collected cows, buffaloes and calves from different areas in Kandhamal district and took them to Dahising haat near Sorada,” said J Jena, inspector in-charge, Bhanjanagar police station
The other members of the racket would smuggle them either to Kerala or West Bengal from the cattle market at Dahisingi, police said.
During patrolling in the area, police received specific information about illegal transport of cattle to Sorada. “We carried out a late night raid and found a person was taking cattle on the road. The accused could not produce documents to claim ownership of the cattle,” the IIC said.
Nayak was arrested under different sections of the BNS and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. After check-up by veterinary doctors at Bhanjanagar, the animals have been left in charge of a charitable trust at Karchuli near Buguda, police said.