Vehicle carrying cattle set on fire

Bhadrak: Tension erupted in Dhusuri area of Bhadrak today after locals stopped seven pick-up trucks carrying cattle and set one of them on fire after rescuing the animals.

Locals alleged that the more than 150 cattle were being illegally smuggled outside the State.

Later, the locals staged a road blockade near Asurali chhak of the district demanding arrest of the drivers of the pick-up trucks.

"We want drivers of all the vehicles to be arrested only then we will allow the pick-up trucks to be driven away," a protester Susant Kabi said.

Subsequently, Dhamnagar SDPO Manoranjan Samal and other officials from Dhusuri police station reached the spot to take a stock of the situation.

"While seven vehicles have been damaged in the incident, one of them was set on fire. An investigation is currently under way," Samal said.

Meanwhile, two platoons of police have also been deployed at the spot to avoid any untoward incident.