Bhubaneswar: In a significant operation against wildlife crime, the Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha Police has made a major breakthrough with the seizure of two elephant tusks worth approximately Rs 50 lakh from a poacher in Boudh district.
Acting on intelligence input, an STF team led by DSP Rashmiranjan Pattnaik and Inspector Jitu Mohan Bassera apprehended Pramod Parida near Telibandha Square in Boudh, at around 7 PM on Sunday, said sources.
Upon searching his belongings, officers found the concealed elephant tusks, which were intended for illegal sale. The accused was immediately taken into custody.
The seized tusks were handed over to the Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF), Boudh, for further legal action under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
It is pertinent to mention that this recent seizure is not an isolated incident, as the STF had previously cracked down on wildlife trafficking in April. In a similar operation, the STF had busted a trafficking attempt in Kandhamal district, arresting two men for possessing a leopard skin.
