Bhadrak: Tension prevailed at Asurali Chhak under Dhusuri police limits in the district last night after locals detained at least seven pick-up vans carrying over 200 cows illegally to West Bengal and torched one of them as at least two cows found dead inside it.
The incident took place late in the night after getting a tip-off on the cattle smuggling a group of locals from Asurali village intercepted the pick-up vans and conducted a search inside those. After over 200 cows were found loaded in the detained vans under inhumane conditions the angry locals called up police.
Later the mob went berserk after finding at least two of the cows dead inside one of the vans and set that ablaze.
Police reached the spot later in the night and rescued the cows to send them to a nearby veterinary hospital for treatment.
Dhamnagar SDPO Manoranjan Samal said the rescued cows were being transported to West Bengal from Pandarbatia area in the district.
At least seven platoons of police force have been stationed at the spot in view of the existing palpable tension over the issue.
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Ms Kalinga