Elephant Tusk Seized by STF

Bureau,Odishabarta

Bhubaneswar:On the basis of reliable information, a team of STF conducted raid along with Karanjia Forest Officials on 26.02.2022 on the road in between village Patung and Kalanda under Keonjhar Sadar P.S. Jurisdiction, Dist. Keonjhar, as a result of which one wildlife criminal namely Ramakanta Pradhan @ Bablu S/o. Late Baglu Pradhan of village Kalanda PO: Parajanpur PS. Keonjhar Sadar Dist. Keonjhar was apprehended.

During search two numbers Elephant Tusk weighing 05 Kg 662 gm and other incriminating materials were recovered from his possession. The accused person could not produce any authority in support of possession of such Elephant Tusks, hence those were seized. The apprehended person and the seized Elephant Tusks were handed over to D.F.O., Karanjia for necessary legal action at their end. Enquiry is going on.

Since 2020 special drive against the wildlife criminals/poachers have been launched , STF has seized as many as 25 Nos. of leopard skin, 15 Nos. of elephant task, 7 Nos. of deer skins, 11 Nos. of live pangolin, 19.5kg of pangolin scales, 2 Nos. of leopard teeth, 29 Nos. of leopard claws, 46 Nos. of live wild parrot with arrest of 59 Nos. of wildlife criminals.