HC Raps Odisha Govt Over Elephant Poaching In Similipal Sanctuary

Cuttack: The Orissa High Court on Tuesday expressed displeasure over the state government’s inaction in elephant poaching incident in Similipal Wildlife Sanctuary in Mayurbhanj district.

Pulling up the PCCF and Joint Task Force (JTF) over the issue, the High Court asked the government whether any step has been taken to prevent elephant poaching in the state.

The HC also sought to know as to why FIR has not been registered against the officials who have been suspended in Similipal elephant poaching case.

The next hearing in the case has been fixed for December 22.

As per reports, poachers had killed an elephant and abandoned the body at Similipal forest after removing the tusks. Instead of taking any action, the forest officials allegedly set the carcass on fire on December 8 to destroy the evidence.

The matter came to light following allegations by the locals after which the government suspended three forest officials – Jenabil range forester-in-charge, forester of Gurandia section and a forest guard of Special Tiger Protection Force – and ordered a high-level probe into the incident.

Around 50 forest officials had reportedly visited Jenabil forest range last week where the tusker’s body was set on fire. The team identified the site where the incident had taken place, seized some bone pieces and sent these remnants to the OUAT for examination.

The fact will be ascertained after receiving the report from the OUAT and further action will be taken after a thorough probe, Similipal Tiger Project’s Deputy Director Samrat Goud is reported to have stated.

It may be recalled that voicing concern over rising number of elephant deaths in Odisha, the High Court had in August directed the state government to form a JTF to prevent jumbo poaching.