Bhubaneswar: A court in Rayagada convicted two wildlife criminals and sentenced them to three years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) for smuggling leopard skin.
The court of Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate, Rayagada also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 each on Dambrudhar Majhi (38) and Santosh Kumar Naik.
Majhi is a resident of Naktiguda under Tikiri police station in Rayagada while Naik belongs to Medri Sahi of Kashipur in the same district.
Both were convicted under section 379/411/120 (B)IPC r.w. 51 the Wild Life (Protection) Act,1972.
Both of them were arrested by the STF on Rayagada- Koraput NH-326 near Siriguda Swargadham Chhaka in Rayagada in May 2023. Three illegal Leopard Hides were also recovered from their possession.
During the investigation, the seized Leopard hides were sent to the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun for biological chemical examination.
After a successful investigation, charge sheet was submitted on July 26, 2023.
This is the fastest trial for any case investigated by STF in Odisha.
