PADUM (Zanskar): District Police Zanskar on Wednesday claimed to have foiled an alleged bovine smuggling bid by intercepting a truck carrying 10 bovine animals without valid documents and arrested five persons after the vehicle allegedly broke through a police check post before being stopped during a search operation.
According to police, the truck bearing registration number JK05B-1743 breached a police naka established at PCP Kargyak (Gonbo Rangjon) in the early hours of the day and fled towards Padum. Following the incident, Police Station Zanskar registered FIR No. 15/2026 under relevant provisions of law and launched a search operation to trace the vehicle.
The truck was intercepted at Chibra Check Post, where officers found 10 bovine animals allegedly being transported from Gurdaspur, Punjab, to Kargil without valid transport documents. The vehicle was seized and all five occupants were taken into custody.
Preliminary investigation has revealed that the animals had been purchased in Gurdaspur and were allegedly being transported for delivery to an individual identified by police as Asif of Anantnag. Police said further investigation is underway to ascertain the complete chain of transportation and identify any other persons connected with the case.
The rescued animals were handed over to the Animal Husbandry Department, Zanskar, for care and further necessary action.
District Police Zanskar said it would continue to take strict action against illegal transportation of animals and appealed to the public to report information relating to such offences to Police Station Zanskar.
