Balasore: Forest department officials claimed to have busted a major wildlife smuggling racket in Odisha with the arrest of 12 persons and seizure of a Royal Bengal Tiger (RBT) skin. While 11 persons were arrested four days ago with a tiger hide in Balasore district, a doctor was nabbed from Mayurbhanj district on Friday for his involvement in the racket, officials said.
The doctor has been identified as Maheshwar Das, posted at the Udala government hospital in Mayurbhanj district.
Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF) Chandipur Jayashree Murmu said the doctor played a key role in wildlife smuggling and all financial transactions of the illegal racket led by one Pradip Nayak were done through Das.
After finding clues that Das had financial transactions with the arrested accused persons, a special team from Chandipur arrested him. After interrogation, he was forwarded to the court, she added.
Earlier on December 23, a special forest team comprising officials from Balasore and Mayurbhanj busted the illegal wildlife trade racket and held 11 persons with the tiger skin.
Initially, four persons were arrested from Soro under Barajadeuli beat in Talpada wildlife section in Balasore district. Preliminary interrogation led to the arrest of seven more accused from Mayurbhanj district. A country-made gun and eight mobile phones were seized from their possession, the oficials said.
The accused were booked under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 (amended in 2022) and a case has been registered under Chandipur WL Range, Balasore Wildlife Division, official sources further stated.
