Bhubaneswar, Jan 17:  Odisha Police on Saturday carried out extensive raids across five districts, arresting 10 men and seizing assets worth nearly Rs 50 crore in a major crackdown on alleged cattle smuggling networks, a senior official said.

The coordinated operation was conducted at 46 locations in Bhadrak, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, and Khurda districts. It involved two additional superintendents of police, five DSPs, 25 inspectors, 36 sub-inspectors and ASIs, and 18 platoons of force.

By evening, police teams had seized Rs1.52 crore in cash, gold weighing 1.13 kg, 3.8 kg of silver, 23 four-wheelers, 23 two-wheelers, 13 mobile phones, and 21 wristwatches. Keonjhar SP Nitin Kusalkar said the raids also uncovered properties including houses, bank deposits, and land linked to the accused, valued at approximately Rs50 crore. These assets will be confiscated under Section 107 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNSS).

The arrested men were identified as SK Rajan alias Tajudin of Bhadrak; Tipu Sultan, Kunu Sahu, Arjun Sahu, SK Akbar, Nasir, and Sipu Sahu of Keonjhar; and Mrutunjaya Mohapatra, Sujit Mohanty, and K Naim of Mayurbhanj.

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Police officials said that the crackdown was prompted by a violent incident nearly a year ago, when cattle smugglers attacked a police van and ran their vehicle over officers. “We had decided to dismantle their network by seizing their properties and arresting them,” SP Kusalkar said.

In Bhadrak town, a raid led by a DSP recovered over Rs70 lakh in cash, gold ornaments, two SUVs, and other valuables from the residence of a suspected smuggler. Several cases are pending against the accused in different police stations of Keonjhar, according to SDPO Sudarshan Gangoi.

The operation was not without resistance. In Tentoposhi village of Mayurbhanj district, locals, including women, staged strong protests when police attempted to seize a four-wheeler. Villagers gheraoed the team and deflated the tyres of the vehicle, forcing police to temporarily halt the seizure.

Officials said the raids will continue until the network is fully dismantled.