In yet another case of mob justice by self-appointed 'gau rakshaks' a group of more than 20 people raided the parcel van of the Kochuveli-Guwahati Express in Bhubaneswar railway station alleging cattle smuggling.

IRCTC/ Representational Image

The vigilantes attacked the loco pilot train and his assistant along with two persons who were legally transporting 20 milch cows.

The cows, owned by a Noida based agro company where being transported from their farm in Salem, Tamil Nadu to Ampati, Meghalaya, following an order received from the state government.

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When the train reached Bhubaneswar railway station on Wednesday night, some 25 vigilantes who claimed to be members of Bajarang Dal barged into the train and attacked the caretakers.

"Without asking anything, the youths started beating me black and blue. They even manhandled a passenger and two railway staff before unloading all the 20 cows from the train," Umesh Singh , one of the caretakers said.

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The Meghalaya government also confirmed that the cow which was being transported were ordered by the state.

"Our chief minister has launched a dairy mission to help farmers with milch cows. We have selected three companies through an e-tender process. Vertex Agro Private Limited is a big firm among them. It was sending us with the 20 cows from Salem," Dr B Rijal, director, Directorate of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary of Meghalaya said.

The cattle were later shifted to a cow shelter in the city. The Government Railway Police have registered a complaint against the Gau Rakshaks, but no arrests have been made in the case.