Tension gripped several villages in the Belonia subdivision of South Tripura following repeated incidents of cattle theft and suspected smuggling reported over the past few days. The situation intensified after local residents organized road blockades, accusing authorities of slow response.
Political groups also approached the Superintendent of Police, urging stronger action, better surveillance, and increased patrolling in vulnerable areas.
In response to the growing unrest, South Tripura police stepped up enforcement measures. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, coordinated teams from Jolaibari Police Station, Belonia Police Station, and the Rishyamukh outpost carried out targeted surveillance operations early Friday morning across multiple locations.
During a check at Shyamali Bazaar in the Rishyamukh area, officers intercepted two vehicles suspected of involvement in illegal cattle transportation. The vehicles, bearing registration numbers TR03J 1743 and TR03D 2222, were stopped for inspection. Police recovered several cattle from one of the vehicles, while the second was also seized on suspicion of being part of the smuggling network.
However, both drivers managed to flee the spot during the operation, complicating immediate arrests and leading to a continued search by law enforcement agencies.
Preliminary findings suggest the cattle were being transported from Jamjuri market in Udaipur, moving through Jolaibari and Rishyamukh, with plans to smuggle them further via Belonia. Police said their timely intervention prevented the suspected illegal transport from proceeding.
A case has been registered under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act along with relevant sections of the Motor Vehicles Act. Investigations are underway, and search operations have been intensified to trace the absconding individuals.
Officials also noted that similar incidents have been reported in recent weeks, where cattle-laden vehicles were intercepted but suspects managed to escape, highlighting ongoing challenges in preventing such illegal activities in the region.
