The stacks were recovered last night during a routine inspection in the area under Sehramau police station when the vehicle was stopped for checking near the Sivai Nala here, they said.
When the driver of the van was asked to stop, he tried to speed past but was chased and the vehicle impounded, police said, adding, 194 cowhides were recovered from the van.
The police said that the driver and one other person in the van managed to escape and efforts were on to nab them.