Odisha forest officials arrested three people in Baliguda on Sunday for their alleged involvement in leopard poaching and the trade in wildlife organs, after recovering leopard claws, teeth, animal remains, firearms and mobile phones during searches.
The seizures were made from the residence of Digambar Kanhar, 56, of Rajikakhola, whom officials suspect of being a wildlife hunter. The recovered items included four leopard claws, leopard teeth, two antelope skulls with horns attached, other wildlife organs, a country-made gun, two axes and three mobile phones.
“ The items were seized following searches in Kanhar’s residence,” Ghanasyam Mahant, divisional forest officer, Baliguda, was quoted as saying.
Two alleged traders, Amitabhachan Pradhan, 36, and Tophan Pradhan, 44, both from Jabedi village, were also arrested. Forest officials believe the two were involved in the wildlife-organ trade and had obtained the seized material from Kanhar.
The case emerged after a joint raid by forest and police personnel on September 18, during which two leopard skins were seized from a person in the Baliguda bus stand area. The seizure led investigators to question Pradhan and Tophan as part of the investigation into the source and movement of the skins.
According to Arun Kumar Sahu, assistant conservator of forests and the investigating officer, the two men told investigators that they had obtained the wildlife material from Kanhar. Acting on that information, a forest team searched Kanhar’s house on Saturday and recovered the animal remains, weapons and phones.
During questioning, Kanhar allegedly confessed to killing two leopards in a dense forest in the Shankarakhola area. The allegation has not been tested in court, and the arrests form part of the ongoing investigation into the suspected poaching and trade network.
The recovery of both wildlife remains and weapons has given investigators material evidence to examine the alleged roles of the hunter and the two suspected traders. The mobile phones seized from Kanhar may also form part of the investigation into communication and transactions connected to the alleged trade, although officials have not disclosed any findings from the devices.
The operation involved the Baliguda forest division and police personnel, underlining the joint enforcement process being used in the case. Officials have not announced further arrests, the legal sections applied or the next court hearing in the information available. The investigation is continuing into the alleged killing of the leopards and the circulation of their body parts.
