Cattle smuggling racket busted in Odisha; over 300 cattle rescued, 11 arrested

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Cattle smuggling racket busted in Odisha; over 300 cattle rescued, 11 arrested

Police intensified their crackdown on an alleged cattle smuggling network in northern Odisha, rescuing around 300 cattle and arresting 11 people during an attempted smuggling operation to West Bengal.

Published by Abhishek Swain | January 19, 2026

The crackdown on an alleged cattle smuggling network operating in northern Odisha has intensified, with police rescuing more than 300 cattle and arresting 11 people during an attempted smuggling operation from Mayurbhanj to West Bengal on Saturday. Officials said the action is part of a wider investigation that began in Keonjhar and has since expanded across more than five districts.

Smugglers Caught While Moving Cattle on FootAccording to police, the accused were intercepted while allegedly moving cattle on foot along National Highway 49 in the Baripada area. The animals were reportedly being taken towards West Bengal when local residents at Bangiriposi noticed suspicious activity and alerted the police. The suspects, hailing from Bhadrak, Jajpur, and Keonjhar districts, were taken into custody and are set to be produced before a court on Monday.

Police sources said the arrested individuals were directly involved in the routine transportation of cattle. Their detention coincided with simultaneous raids at multiple locations linked to those believed to be the key operators of the smuggling network.

Raids in Baripada and RairangpurAs part of the ongoing operation, police raided the residence of Surjit Mohanty in Baripada, identified as a major conspirator in the racket. During the search, cash worth nearly Rs 33 lakh along with gold and silver ornaments was seized.

In another operation at Tentoposi in Rairangpur, police conducted raids at around seven houses allegedly connected to cattle smuggling activities. Four pickup vehicles and nine motorcycles were seized, and six individuals were detained for questioning.

Economic Offence Angle Under ProbeThe Baripada Sadar Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) said the raids and seizures would continue in the coming days. He added that those found to be involved would be booked under economic offence provisions. Investigators are scrutinising income sources and asset accumulation to determine the extent of financial irregularities.

Masterminds Identified, More Arrests LikelyPolice said the smugglers were using the cover of trading in iron rods, cement, and other construction materials to mask their illegal operations. While the 11 arrested individuals were mainly involved in transporting cattle, authorities have identified the alleged masterminds behind the network and indicated that more arrests are expected as the investigation progresses.