Three more forest staff nabbed for Athagarh jumbo death cover-up
The New Indian Express
June 21, 2022
The Athagarh Forest Division has arrested three more forest staff - a
forest guard and two watchers - in connection with the death and burial of
an elephant in Baramba range. Athagarh DFO Sudarshan Gopinath Jadav said
forest guard of Janipadar beat Prabhat Kumar Pradhan and two watchers Braja
Behera and Ashok Behera were arrested on Sunday on charges of suppressing
information regarding death and burial of a jumbo. The accused have been
produced before the court.
With this, seven forest staff have been arrested so far in connection with
the three elephant carcasses exhumed by the Special Task Force (STF) of
Crime Branch and Forest department from Baramba range between June 2 and
14. The DFO, however, clarified that the fresh arrests have been made in
connection with recovery of carcass from Janipadar beat of Gopapur section
in Baramba range on June 14. The forest guard has also been suspended from
duty for his alleged involvement in the case.
Earlier, the Forest department had suspended a ranger and arrested six
persons including four forest staff in connection with recovery of the
carcasses by the STF on June 2 and 3. Two foresters, booked under Wildlife
Protection Act for their involvement in this case, are still absconding.
PCCF (Wildlife) Shashi Paul said legal action will be taken against all
involved in these three cases as per the investigation of the Special
Investigation Team (SIT) formed recently involving the Crime Branch STF.
Sources said the SIT headed by RCCF Angul M Yogajayanand is likely to have
its first meeting on Tuesday to decide its course of investigation. It has
been asked to submit its report to the government within a month. The team
will carry out its work under the supervision of Chief Conservator of
Forests (CCF) Manoj V Nair. In another development, coordinator of Centre
for Wildlife Health at OUAT Dr Niranjan Sahoo said samples of the elephants
whose remains were exhumed by STF and Forest department in Athagarh have
been received for forensic tests.
https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bhubaneswar/2022/jun/21/three-more-forest-staff-nabbed-for-athagarh-jumbo-death-cover-up-2467905.html
Three more forest staff nabbed for Athagarh jumbo death cover-up
The New Indian Express
June 21, 2022
The Athagarh Forest Division has arrested three more forest staff - a
forest guard and two watchers - in connection with the death and burial of
an elephant in Baramba range. Athagarh DFO Sudarshan Gopinath Jadav said
forest guard of Janipadar beat Prabhat Kumar Pradhan and two watchers Braja
Behera and Ashok Behera were arrested on Sunday on charges of suppressing
information regarding death and burial of a jumbo. The accused have been
produced before the court.
With this, seven forest staff have been arrested so far in connection with
the three elephant carcasses exhumed by the Special Task Force (STF) of
Crime Branch and Forest department from Baramba range between June 2 and
14. The DFO, however, clarified that the fresh arrests have been made in
connection with recovery of carcass from Janipadar beat of Gopapur section
in Baramba range on June 14. The forest guard has also been suspended from
duty for his alleged involvement in the case.
Earlier, the Forest department had suspended a ranger and arrested six
persons including four forest staff in connection with recovery of the
carcasses by the STF on June 2 and 3. Two foresters, booked under Wildlife
Protection Act for their involvement in this case, are still absconding.
PCCF (Wildlife) Shashi Paul said legal action will be taken against all
involved in these three cases as per the investigation of the Special
Investigation Team (SIT) formed recently involving the Crime Branch STF.
Sources said the SIT headed by RCCF Angul M Yogajayanand is likely to have
its first meeting on Tuesday to decide its course of investigation. It has
been asked to submit its report to the government within a month. The team
will carry out its work under the supervision of Chief Conservator of
Forests (CCF) Manoj V Nair. In another development, coordinator of Centre
for Wildlife Health at OUAT Dr Niranjan Sahoo said samples of the elephants
whose remains were exhumed by STF and Forest department in Athagarh have
been received for forensic tests.
https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bhubaneswar/2022/jun/21/three-more-forest-staff-nabbed-for-athagarh-jumbo-death-cover-up-2467905.html
