A truck set on fire by mob in Sambalpur. Telegraph picture

Sambalpur, May 8: Angry villagers of Kabrapali under Sambalpur Sadar police limits, 17km from here, blocked the national highway No. 53 today after a truck carrying more than 20 cows and oxen met with an accident.

The accident took place around 3:30am and killed 10 cows and two oxen on the spot. Irate villagers set the truck afire after the accident and blocked the road in the morning. The truck was heading to Calcutta.

“Smuggling of cattle has become a regular phenomenon here but the administration is not taking any initiative to stop this. There is a check-gate at Sindur Pankh but the people there turn a blind eye to such activities,” said Sarat Sahu, chairman of Jujomura Panchayat Samiti, who led the agitation.

“Appropriate action should be taken against those involved in the smuggling of cattle. We will not remove the road block until the administration assures us in written that the employees of the check gate involved in this incident will be sacked,” he said. “We have also demanded that the administration should ensure that vehicles involved in such accidents did not get their insurance money,” he added.

Sambalpur District Congress Committee president Rajkishore Das, who went to the spot to support the agitation, said: “The truck had reached the spot after crossing two check-gates of Sambalpur district. It is surprising that the employees deployed at the check-gates did not stop the vehicle. The employees of these check-gates should be suspended immediately.”

“The vehicle was going towards Calcutta and it has crossed two check-gates in Sambalpur district. So, it cannot be denied that some staff of the gates are involved in this smuggling.” said former district president of Bharatiya Janata Party Govind Agrawal.

Sub divisional police officer Dilip Kumar Deo said: “Investigation is on and proper action will be taken against those who are involved in cattle smuggling.” The roadblock was not withdrawn until late in the afternoon. Lalit Bhoi, an agitator, said: “We will not withdraw until the police and the administration assure us in written that they will take stringent action against those who are involved in this case.”