Cuttack: A contractual forest employee, who was reportedly an eyewitness to the poaching of a tusker and burning of the carcass at Similipal Odisha, died while undergoing treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital late on Thursday night.
According to sources, Turam Purty was reported to have consumed poison on December 11 after being allegedly threatened by the three forest staff who were involved in withholding information about the death of the elephant in Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR).
STR field director T Ashok Kumar suspended three forest staff, identified as Jenabil ranger in-charge Shiv Shankar Samal, forester Chandrabhanu Behera and forest guard Binod Kumar Das, on the same day. The three were later arrested after the Orissa High Court came down heavily on top forest officials over the elephant poaching.
The forest officials had allegedly told Purty that he might be imprisoned if he provides any proof regarding the case.
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 in the area.
Thereafter, a few bones that were collected from the spot and sent to the Centre for Wildlife Health at OUAT Bhubaneswar for examination matched with the traces of flesh found and revealed that it was a tusker.
A case was registered against the trio under appropriate sections of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 for burning the carcass of a tusker without informing the higher authorities. More persons are also likely to be arrested in this connection.
Also Read: HC Raps Odisha Govt Over Elephant Poaching In Similipal Sanctuary
