Bhubaneswar: Tension gripped Bhubaneswar Railway station for quite some time on Wednesday night after activists of Bajrang Dal, Hinduraksha Sangathan and People for Animals detained two persons and thrashed them after tying them to a pole for transporting cattle illegally in the parcel bogie of an express train.
Around 20 cows were also rescued from the Kochuveli-Guwahati super-fast express. According to reports some cattle food was also seized while a veterinary doctor and four caretakers were also detained.
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The train from Karnataka stood on the track for around two hours following the tension. Later, the service resumed after GRP and RPF officials intervened in the matter.
The GRP started an inquiry to find out the reason behind cattle transportation. The duo is also being interrogated, a GRP official said.
The Bajrang Dal activists alleged the cows were transported for slaughtering. "We were tipped off by our activists in Srikakulam and accordingly intercepted them in Bhubaneswar. We rescued 20 cows while being transported illegally in the train for slaughtering", Bajrang Dal district coordinator Bhupesh Nayak said.
Animal Welfare Board alleged Railway officials' connivance in such unlawful act. "Building good rapport with top officials of Railway department, the cattle traffickers are able to commit such crime", said Debasis Patnaik, member of Animal Welfare Board.