Operation Goraksha: Odisha Police Crack Down on Organised Cattle Smuggling Syndicate

Keonjhar: In one of the largest crackdowns on cattle smuggling in Odisha, police on Saturday launched a massive multi-district operation, codenamed Operation Goraksha, targeting an organised cattle smuggling syndicate operating across several districts of the state.

Led by Keonjhar police, simultaneous raids were conducted at 46 locations in Keonjhar, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Mayurbhanj and Khurda districts. The operation is based on the investigation of Daitari police station case number 107/2025, which revealed a well-organised smuggling network with links extending to Cuttack and Bhubaneswar. The raids are expected to continue on Sunday.

A large police force was deployed for the operation, including two additional Superintendents of Police, five Deputy SPs, 25 inspectors, 36 sub-inspectors and 18 platoons of armed police force.

So far, police have detained 10 suspected cattle smugglers. During the raids, ₹1.52 crore in cash, around 1 kg of gold, nearly 3 kg of silver and several other valuables were seized. Police also seized 23 four-wheelers, 23 motorcycles and multiple documents related to financial transactions and vehicle movements.

Investigators have identified movable and immovable assets worth over ₹50 crore allegedly belonging to the syndicate, including bank deposits, houses and land. The process of seizure has already begun.

The alleged mastermind of the racket, Sheikh Rajan of Bhadrak, has been detained. Police recovered ₹60 lakh in cash, two Scorpio vehicles and 7.62 grams of gold from his possession. Another key accused, Tipu Sultan of Samantarapur in Keonjhar district, was detained with ₹30 lakh in cash, 200 grams of gold, 1.17 kg of silver jewellery, one car and four motorcycles.

Several other suspects were detained from Turumunga, Harichandanpur, Mochinda and Guhalia areas, with cash, gold, silver and vehicles seized during the searches.

In Mayurbhanj district, raids were carried out in Kuduma, Mandua, Karanjia and Tentaposi, leading to the seizure of ₹3.5 lakh in cash along with gold and silver ornaments. In Bishoi, police detained Tuna Mohapatra and seized cash, gold, silver, a Mahindra 300 vehicle and a Bullet motorcycle.

At Jharpokharia, police recovered over ₹32.5 lakh in cash along with gold and silver from Sujit Mohanty. In Jajpur district’s Baruan area, police seized cash, gold, silver, multiple cars, two Bullet motorcycles, scooters, wristwatches and mobile phones.

Keonjhar Superintendent of Police Nitin Kushalkar said the syndicate had been involved in cattle smuggling for a long time and had even attacked police teams on several occasions. He said more than 50 criminal cases are registered against the accused.

The SP confirmed that the raids were conducted based on search warrants issued by the JMFC court in Keonjhar and added that properties worth over ₹100 crore, allegedly acquired through cattle smuggling, are likely to be seized in the coming days.