Angul: A leopard died after it fell into a trap in Odisha’s Angul district. The incident has come to the fore from Mindol village under Thakurgarh police limits of Aathmallik block in the district.
Following the incident, the forest department Regional Chief Conservator of Forest (RCCF) Sudhanshu Shekhar Khora has suspended forester Aloknath Mishra and forest guard Arun Kumar Deep.
The forest department has also initiated a detailed probe into the matter. While it is suspected the trap was showed for wildlife trafficking.
In the recent times, wildlife trafficking has become quite common in the state. On Friday, a wildlife trafficking was busted in Odisha’s Cuttack district. The forest department officials also arrested two accused in connection with the incident. Reportedly, the accused were planning to sell skin of leopard at Netaji Subas Bridge in Cuttack. Based on reports from a special source, the Cuttack city Forest Division team reached on the spot.
The accused also tried to flee from the spot. However, the department nabbed the accused a day after the incident. According to official reports, one accused has been nabbed from Mahangaru and another from Bidanasi area of Cuttack.
Earlier on January 20, a team of STF conducted raid and seized leopard skin. The incident was reported from near Ranipathar village, Charichhak under Puruna Katak PS Jurisdiction Dist. Boudh regarding dealing/possession of wildlife products by wildlife criminal. One accused, identified as Goutam Behera, from Kandhamal was arrested in connection with this. During the search one Leopard Skin and other incriminating materials were recovered from his possession.
Ms Kalinga