Akankshya Mahapatra 
The state CB-CID has affirmed in the Orissa High Court that the Orissa Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act 1960, the Orissa Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act 1966 and the provisions of Sections 428 and 429 of the Indian Penal Code are meticulously implemented in the state to prevent the illegal transport of cows.
In an affidavit, DSP of CB-CID, Cuttack, Saroj Kanta Mohanta claimed that the existing provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 and the Prevention of Cow Slaughtering Act 1960 are adequate to prevent cruelty and curb illegal cow slaughter.
“Overall, the Odisha Police implement existing laws expeditiously when the matter is either reported to the local police or the police receive such information from other sources,” he added.
The affidavit was filed in response to a PIL requesting a court-supervised task force to prevent the illegal transportation of cows and the state’s ban on cow slaughter.
The Divisional Bench of Chief Justice S. Muralidhar and Justice RK Pattanaik took note and directed the petitioner’s attorney, BK Ragada, to file a rejoinder by September 13, the date set for the next hearing on the matter.
The report on illegal transportation cases attached to the affidavit shows that the number of cases increased from 117 in 2017 to 371 in 2021.
Of the 1,033 registered cases over the five years, 143 cases were detected in the northern districts of Odisha of Balasore (57), Bhadrak (62) and Mayurbhanj (24).
The report revealed that an increasing number of cases of illegally transporting cows have been recorded after vehicles have been intercepted and subsequently impounded in the state. In the affidavit, Mohanta said Cuttack DCP took action against illegal cow transporters by registering 13 cases in 2021 and also took several pre-emptive steps to check this.
