At least 25 cows were killed and several injured when a truck transporting them overturned on NH 60 in Odisha's Balasore district Monday, police said.
The vehicle driver fled the scene after the incident near Alarpur, an officer of Jaleswar police station said.
Local Bajrang Dal activists staged a protest after the incident.
The protest was called off after intervention of senior police officials, the officer said.
"We suspect that the cattle was being transported to neighbouring West Bengal but it can be confirmed only after investigation," he added.
The injured cows were taken to a local veterninary hospital for treatment.