STF seeks remand of 4 poachers

BHUBANESWAR: The Special Task Force (STF) of the Crime Branch on Friday sought the remand of four poachers arrested in connection with killing a Royal Bengal Tiger (RBT) at Khajuria, close to Debrigarh wildlife sanctuary in Bargarh district.
On October 28, the decomposed carcass of an RBT was found. The forest department suspended a forester and forest guard, blaming them for negligence of duty for the late detection. On November 2, poachers Satyaban Sahu, Gouri Mirdha and Sushil Bhoi were held. On November 4, Jakira Tidu was arrested. "The poachers had been booked under section 51 of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972," said Abhay Kumar Dalei, divisional forest officer, Bargarh.

After their arrest, the poachers had confessed before forest department officials that they had killed the RBT.

At present, all the four are in judicial custody. "We have sought their remand to unearth the larger conspiracy. Interrogation will help us know about the racket, its network and history," said inspector general (STF) Yatindra Koyal.

This is the second wildlife case being probed by an STF in less than six months. On June 29, it took over the probe of the pangolin scale racket after one Samsuddin Khan was arrested by the forest department with five kg of pangolin scales.

The forest department had seized paws and seven whiskers from the poachers after their arrest. "We have applied for the remand in the court, which will now decide on the number of days we can take them in remand," Koyal said.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority had sent a two-member expert team to the site where the RBT carcass had been found. The team found blatant violation of the standard operating procedure that is required to dispose of the carcass.