Baripada: Odisha’s Forest and Environment department on Sunday suspended three forest staff including a ranger for their alleged involvement in withholding information about the death of an elephant in Similipal Tiger Reserve.
The suspended officials have been identified as Jenabil ranger in-charge Shiv Shankar Samal, forester Chandrabhanu Behera and forest guard Binod Kumar Das.
According to sources, the villagers alleged that some of the forest staff burnt an elephant and threw the charred remains in a nearby stream to destroy the evidence after poachers killed the animal and removed its tusks in the core area within the Gurandi limits.
Simlipal authorities received complaints from the locals of Bakua village regarding the killing and covering up of an elephant in the core area by the field staff on December 7.
Based on the complaint, a team led by Similipal South deputy director Samrat Gowda was formed and search operations were initiated in the entire Jenabil range on December 8 and 9.
During the search operation, Gowda and his team managed to trace the location with the help of a local and found a few small-sized bones from the area.
The bones collected from the spot were sent to the Centre for Wildlife Health at OUAT Bhubaneswar for examination to identify whether they were of the elephant or any other animal.
Meanwhile, Baripada RCCF and Similipal field director T Ashok Kumar suspended the three forest officials. Further investigation underway.
Also Read: Odisha’s Similipal National Park Reopens Today; Entry Timing, Ticket Price & Night Stay
