Berhampur police have appealed to the director-general of police to take over the investigation of wildlife cases recently lodged by the wildlife crime cell of the state crime branch police. SP (Berhampur) Saravana Vivek M wrote a letter to the DG and IG of police, CID-crime branch, in this regard recently. Citing the gravity of the wildlife offence and involvement of explosives and weapons, the SP sought transfer of two cases to the specialised wildlife crime cell for further investigation and filing of prosecution papers.
Seizure of Leopard Skins and Arrests
Police seized three leopard skins in two separate places under Jarada police station limits recently and arrested five persons, four of them from Gajapati district. While two leopard skins were seized near Brutal on June 7, two persons were arrested for allegedly possessing the big cat skins from Ankuli area. Similarly, three persons, all from Ramagiri area in Gajapati district, were arrested for illegal possession of another leopard skin, which was seized from Ankuli area on May 16. The accused also used firearms like crude bombs and sharp weapons while police conducted raids. However, they could not show valid documents to support possession of the leopard skins.
Role of Crime Branch Wildlife Cell
The crime branch has a specialised cell to deal with wildlife cases. “We have requested the director-general of police to hand over these cases to the wildlife crime cell for investigating,” said SP. The investigation will involve poaching of deer, their destination of sale and detection of other persons, if any, in the illegal trading, etc. Wildlife activists feared the leopards might have been killed in the border forest areas in Ganjam and Gajapati districts by suspected hunters for trading of organs, including skins. “Only seizure of skins of leopards will not solve the purpose, investigation needs to be focused on poaching of big cats, place of hunting and people involved in hunting,” said S N Patra, president, Odisha Environment Society.
