Tension prevailed in Gamharia village under the Bahalda police limits in Mayurbhanj district after locals nabbed two cattle traders in the locality and thrashed them brutally on Friday night.
Sources said the two cattle traders of Gambharia and Bhalubasa villages had gone to Gamharia to sell beef when the locals caught them red-handed. The villagers then thrashed them and forced them to kneel down in public.
The locals later released them after the duo apologised for their act and promised not to repeat the same.
However, police refused to have any such information on the matter.