Bhubaneswar, April 8: The Odisha Police have enforced the National Security Act (NSA) against Sakil Khan, a suspected cattle smuggler currently in judicial custody. Khan, a resident of the Tigiria area in Cuttack district, was arrested in February this year.
Officials confirmed that Khan faces at least 10 pending cases, including charges related to illegal cattle smuggling and assaulting public servants.
Cuttack (Rural) SP stated that the decision to detain Khan under the NSA was made to prevent his ongoing involvement in criminal and anti-social activities. "Given his repeated offenses and the threat he poses to public order, we sought action under the NSA, which has now been sanctioned by the state government," SP said.
Police authorities have labeled Khan as a habitual offender with a criminal record that includes assault, intimidation, rioting, and organized crimes, particularly smuggling of cattle. His actions have greatly disrupted public peace in the region, and conventional legal actions have proven ineffective in curbing his behavior.
In light of this, a proposal was submitted to the Cuttack district administration for Khan's preventive detention under the NSA.
The proposal was approved by the state government on April 7, 2026.
