Jashpur. (18:05): Cattle smuggling is rampant between Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, particularly in the Lodam area. Recently, Lodam police received a tip-off about cattle being smuggled in pickup vehicles. Upon immediate action, the police cordoned off the main road NH 43 and Konbira forest area. The smugglers, seeing the blockade, drove recklessly, causing damage to their vehicle and fleeing on foot.
Police pursued one pickup filled with cattle on NH 43, leading to a toll booth where the smugglers damaged property before abandoning the vehicle. With the help of villagers, the police recovered the damaged pickup containing 22 cows, including 14 cows and 10 bulls, with three cows found dead due to overcrowding.
Interestingly, smugglers disguised their activities by placing empty vegetable and tomato baskets atop the pickups. Despite previous cases and heightened vigilance, cattle smuggling persists, with hundreds of pickups reportedly utilized for the illicit trade along the Jashpur-Gumla main road.
