India, June 12 -- A member of a cow protection group died 13 days after alleged cattle smugglers assaulted him, prompting the authorities to deploy additional police forces and suspend internet services for 24 hours in parts of Odisha's Bhadrak amid communal tensions, a police officer said. Police superintendent Manoj Rout said the internet will remain suspended until 6am Friday.

People aware of the matter said Santosh Parida died at a Bhubaneswar hospital late on Wednesday. Twelve accused in the case have been arrested, and chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced a Rs.10 lakh compensation for Parida's family.

A Criminal Investigation Department officer said 139 cases of cattle trafficking were lodged in 2019, 267 in 2020, 371 in 20...