Odisha Police Launch Massive Anti‑Cattle Smuggling Operation
- Nishadil
- June 14, 2026
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Police raid 19 locations in three districts, seize hundreds of cattle and nab dozens of suspects
In a coordinated crackdown, Odisha’s law‑enforcement agencies swept across three districts, raiding 19 sites, rescuing over 300 cattle and arresting 27 alleged smugglers.
On Thursday, the Odisha police, backed by the Animal Husbandry Department, stepped up their long‑standing fight against illegal cattle trade. After weeks of intelligence gathering, teams swooped into 19 different hide‑outs spread across three districts – Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack and Puri.
It wasn’t a quiet, textbook‑style operation. Officers arrived in vans and trucks, some with sniffer dogs, and literally broke down doors to reach barns, sheds and even private homes where the animals were being kept. In total, more than 300 cattle – cows, buffaloes and goats – were rescued and taken to government shelters.
Alongside the rescued livestock, the raids netted a haul of contraband paperwork, fake health certificates and a few thousand rupees in cash. Police say they also seized transport vehicles that were rigged to move the animals across state lines under the radar.
The human side of the story is just as striking. Twenty‑seven individuals, ranging from local middlemen to larger syndicate leaders, were placed under arrest. Many were found with the animals chained in cramped, unsanitary conditions, prompting concerns over animal welfare that officials said would be addressed in the upcoming investigation.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik praised the “swift and decisive” action, promising that the state will not tolerate any attempts to undermine the livestock sector. He added that the rescued cattle will be rehabilitated and, where possible, returned to their rightful owners.
While the crackdown sends a clear message to smugglers, police admit the battle is far from over. They have announced a series of follow‑up checks, including spot inspections at markets and transport hubs, to make sure the illegal network does not simply relocate elsewhere.
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