Police authorities in the Lailunga jurisdiction of Raigarh district, Chhattisgarh, have thwarted an attempt to illegally transport cattle across the state border. Acting under the district enforcement initiative Operation Shankhnaad, law enforcement officers intercepted and rescued 6 cattle that were being driven on foot without legal documentation toward slaughterhouses situated in neighboring Odisha. A 19-year-old youth was apprehended on the spot. The total estimated monetary value of the seized livestock stands at approximately 35 thousand rupees.
Tactical Cordon Along the Bandhapara Village Route
District police units have maintained heightened surveillance across rural corridors to curb cattle trafficking and eliminate cruelty against animals. Acting upon actionable intelligence indicating that cattle were being moved along unauthorized rural tracks toward Odisha, a police team from Lailunga mobilized quickly. The personnel laid a targeted cordon along the pathway passing through Bandhapara village. During this interception, officers spotted an individual herding 6 cattle along the dirt track. Upon being detained and questioned, the youth identified himself as 19-year-old Mankitan Yadav, a resident of Sihardhar within the Lailunga area.
Physical Abuse and Deprivation En Route
Inquiries revealed that the suspect possessed no transport permits, transit passes, or valid ownership papers for moving the animals. The cattle were being forced to march across long distances on foot. Throughout the journey, the animals had been deprived of adequate food and drinking water. Furthermore, they were subjected to repeated physical beating to force them forward without rest. Intervening in time, the police team rescued all 6 distressed cattle, officially impounding the animals valued at around 35 thousand rupees and transferring them safely out of harm's way.
Charges Registered Under Animal Protection Acts
Following the rescue, Lailunga police initiated formal legal proceedings against Mankitan Yadav. Cases have been registered against him under specific provisions of the Chhattisgarh Agricultural Cattle Preservation Act alongside the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. Following his formal arrest and completion of procedural documentation, the accused was produced before the local judicial magistrate, who remanded him to jail custody.
Arrangements for Feed, Water, and Continued Vigilance
Beyond executing the interception and legal arrest, the police personnel attended directly to the immediate welfare of the rescued cattle. Adequate fodder and clean drinking water were promptly arranged to help the exhausted animals recover from their ordeal. Police officials stated that the drive against illegal cattle transit and cruelty to livestock will remain active across the district. The swift operation at Bandhapara represents an important enforcement success under the ongoing Operation Shankhnaad campaign.
