30 cows found dead inside truck in Odisha; ‘cattle smuggler absconding’

A shocking case of suspected cattle smuggling came to light on Tuesday after blood was seen dripping from a vehicle parked suspiciously on the Shalabhanga forest road near Buguda under Daspalla police limits in Odisha’s Ganjam district. 

Alert local residents noticed blood flowing from an Eicher truck and immediately informed the police, suspecting foul play. Daspalla police reached the location shortly after receiving the tip-off. Upon inspecting the vehicle, officers detected a strong foul smell, leading them to believe that the truck was carrying cow meat. 

The vehicle was seized, and a detailed search was conducted. During the inspection, police discovered a horrifying sight — the carcasses of 30 cows packed inside the vehicle.

Also Read: Bhubaneswar to become stray cattle-free, Odisha govt to build model gaushala

According to a preliminary investigation, the cows were being transported illegally by cattle smugglers. When the truck reportedly developed a mechanical issue on the forest road, the smugglers allegedly abandoned it and fled the spot to avoid being caught.

Veterinary doctor Sidhant Shekhar Sahu, who examined the animals, confirmed that almost all the cows had died due to suffocation inside the tightly covered vehicle.

“At around 1 PM, I received information that a cow was stuck inside the truck, and we suspected there were more. When we opened it, all of them were dead except one. The surviving cow has been given medical treatment. The remaining carcasses will be buried. As the cows were covered inside the truck without ventilation, they died of suffocation,” Dr. Sahu said.

Police have initiated a probe into the incident and are trying to identify the individuals involved in the illegal transport. Further investigation is underway to uncover the full extent of the smuggling network.