Athagarh, Sep 10: In a late-night operation on Tuesday, Gurudijhatia Police under Athagarh jurisdiction uncovered a milk adulteration racket near Kushpangi, behind a local hotel.

Acting on a tip-off, the police raided the site around 2 am and found adulterated milk being processed and transported.

According to sources, the racket had been under surveillance for several days. The operation involved extracting milk from tankers, diluting it with water, and mixing it with salt, powder, and a chemical substance to enhance volume and appearance. The adulterated milk was reportedly en route from Sambalpur to a reputed company in Cuttack.

Police officials revealed that the adulteration was carried out using machines installed at the site. The milk tanker driver fled the scene during the raid, and efforts are underway to trace and apprehend him.

Preliminary investigations suggest that this could be part of a larger supply chain targeting high-end dairy companies.

Authorities have launched a full-scale investigation to identify all individuals involved and assess the extent of the adulteration network. Samples of the adulterated milk have been sent for laboratory testing, and legal action will be taken based on the results.

This incident raises serious concerns about food safety and public health, especially given the widespread consumption of milk and dairy products.