Dhamara, April 10: After police and Hindu social outfits intensified checking of cattle smuggle through highways to West Bengal, smugglers are now using sea route.
Cattle are being smuggled on boats through sea route to Bangladesh from Dhamara coast in Bhadrak district of Odisha.
The mafias are purchasing cattle from different areas and gathering them at villages near Dhamara sea coast. Later, the animals are being transported on large boats late at night.
The mafias had kept 42 cattle in the backyard of one Satya Gopal Maiti's house in Kishorprasad village near Dhamara port area on Monday for smuggling to Bangladesh. Being informed about the incident, villagers rescued the animals and informed the local police in this regard.
Satya Gopal Maiti said a mafia of Medinapur area of West Bengal is transporting the cattle to Bangladesh on boats threatening him with dire consequences.