Leopard Skin Seized by Jarada Police; Three Wildlife Criminal Arrested
K. Santosh Patra, Odishabarta
District Correspondent
Berhampur, May 16, 2026:In a major crackdown on wildlife crime, Jarada Police under the Berhampur Police District busted an alleged leopard skin smuggling racket and arrested three persons involved in the illegal transportation and trade of wildlife contraband.
Acting on a complaint lodged by Jarada Police Station Inspector-in-Charge Minakshi Dalabehera, police launched a special operation after receiving credible information on Thursday afternoon regarding an attempt to illegally transport and sell a leopard skin in the area.
Addressing the media on Saturday, police said that at around 3:45 PM, the IIC of Jarada Police Station, along with her team, proceeded to the Dhanabada-Ankuli hilltop area following the tip-off.
Upon reaching the spot, police noticed four persons attempting to flee towards the nearby forest.
The police team immediately chased the suspects. During the operation, the accused allegedly pushed police personnel and used force in an attempt to escape. One of the accused reportedly brandished a sword and threatened to kill the police officials.
After a prolonged chase, police managed to apprehend three accused persons, while another suspect escaped into the forest carrying a firearm.
The arrested persons have been identified as Gobinda Chandra Nayak (47) of Chachadakhatta village under Ramagiri police limits in Gajapati district, Gunju Raita (60) of Barada village, and Ritu Badamundi (25) of Mangarajpur village.
During the search operation, police recovered several incriminating materials, including one full-size leopard skin, two live handmade bombs, one sword, one iron rod, and one knife.
Police said the leopard skin was recovered from a jute bag found at the spot, while the other weapons and explosive materials were seized from the possession of the accused.
Based on the evidence collected during the investigation, police arrested the trio and forwarded them to the court.
Investigators are also probing the involvement of other persons linked to the interstate wildlife smuggling network and the possible transportation routes used for trafficking the leopard skin.
Sources further alleged that the arrested persons were habitual offenders and had earlier come under the radar of police authorities since February 2026.
The incident has also raised serious questions over wildlife monitoring and enforcement mechanisms in the region. Despite substantial government allocations for wildlife management under the Berhampur Forest Division, concerns are being raised over the effectiveness of implementation and monitoring.
Notably, this is the second major wildlife-related seizure in the Berhampur Police District after a similar success by Golonthara Police in January 2024.
Police have registered a case vide Jarada PS Case No. 165 dated 15.05.2026 under Sections 61(2), 132, 109, and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS); Sections 09, 43, 44, 49, 49(B), and 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act; Sections 25(1)(a) and 27 of the Arms Act; and Section 4 of the Explosive Substances Act.
