Manori Bibi holds her two-month-old daughter quietly inside their mud house in Astia village, Balasore, Odisha. Her husband, 35-year-old mason Seikh Mukander Mohammed, died on January 14 after being lynched by gau rakshaks. These cow vigilantes operate openly in BJP-ruled states and often block cattle transport vehicles. Odisha Police's Crime Branch reported roughly 20 cow-related violence cases each month since mid-2025. Mukander was called early on Makar Sankranti to help escort a fish-laden van for ₹1,000. Later, he was found injured and taken to hospital by police but died that afternoon. Videos appeared showing a man, possibly Mukander, being beaten by men chanting "Jai Shri Ram" and "Go mata, mo maa." Mukander’s brother filed a complaint resulting in a mob lynching case. Six arrests have been made. Crime records reveal frequent cattle transport interceptions by vigilante groups linked to Hindu organizations like Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad. These groups reach the scene before police and inform them, but violence often precedes police action. Human rights lawyers criticize the unchecked power of gau rakshaks. "Where does the law allow cow vigilantes to assault people?" said Biswapriya Kanungo. Local authorities admit public awareness campaigns exist but no formal training for gau rakshaks as informers. Political reactions have been muted. The Congress condemned the killing, and the BJD sent a delegation to the victim’s family. Soon after, police launched major raids in Keonjhar and nearby areas, seizing cash, gold, and silver, and arresting nine suspects linked to cattle smuggling. Animal Husbandry Minister Gokula Nanda Mallik said properties worth over ₹50 crore were confiscated and promised stricter action against smugglers, while urging vigilantes not to take the law into their hands. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi warned smugglers of strict consequences and announced construction of cow shelters with government land support. Meanwhile, the victim’s family battles deepening debt and social stigma, reflecting the human cost behind the anti-cattle smuggling efforts.