Illegal trade of wildlife articles, forest officials seized two leopard skins and arrested six persons in Gajapati district
Congrattulation Ms. Sainshri Das
Bhagabat Padhi,Odishabarta
Paralakhemundi- ealing a blow to illegal trade in wildlife articles, forest officials seized two leopard skins and arrested six persons in Gajapati district in the last two days.Gajajapati district Forest Division raided at 2 separate places & seized leopard skins with other accessories.
A team led by Sainshri Das ACF of Paralakhemundi Forest Division raided at new Busstand of Paralakhemundi.From one I.Gorila Ravi(40) of Hadubhangi village & Prafulla Ghanta(42) of Parida village both under Kashinagar police limits were arrested.
The team seized 1 leopard skin, 1 motor bike & 2 mobile phones seized.
In the second raid on Friday, the forest team seized another leopard skin near Tulasinagar village under Paniganda section of Mohana range around 11.30 am. Four persons were arrested for allegedly dealing in wildlife articles. They are Jaga Mallick (36), Bijaya Nanda Nayak (23) and Deepak Kumar Nayak (25), all from Kandhamal district besides Trilochana Patra (35) of Adava in Gajapati.
Theywere taken to custody for interrogation.From them 1 leopard skin,2 motor bikes & 4 mobile phones seized. Under Wildlife Protection Act 53 of 1972 .
Among team members Amit Subhrajit FRO Devagiri Range,Laxmiprasad Bisoyi FRO Mohana Range,Roopak Kumar Pradhan Deputy RO of RRT,Sunil Mandal FRO Ramgiri,Swaraj Mohanty & Namita Lugun FGs,Biru Gouda & Pabitra Rona of Anti Poaching Squad of RR joined on raid.
Forest officials said the four accused were taken into custody for production in court. Further investigation is underway to establish the source of the leopard skins and determine whether the accused were linked to a wider wildlife trafficking network. Further investigation is underway to establish the source of the leopard skins and determine whether the accused were linked to a wider wildlife trafficking network.
