After Seizure of Tusks, Cops Discover Illegal Arms Unit From Around STR

Baripada, July 3: Just after the recovery of four tusks from five persons under Jashipur police limits,  search operations conducted in villages in and around Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) and Sanctuary and Mahuldiha Police had another breakthrough in detection of an arms manufacturing unit run by an accused named Jitu Lohar (25), son of late Ramachandra Lohar of Bhejidiha village under Mahuldiha police limits in Mayurbhanj district.

This has clearly indicated that the recent crimes committed against the forest guards within the STR limits as through these illegal arms manufacturing units, availability of guns have become easier for the hunters who are targetting the wild animals and smuggling their body parts through the people dealing with such illegal goods.

The operation was based on the intelligence reports provided by the Mayurbhanj Police’s intelligence cell which was set up recently for collection and exchange of intelligence on poachers, arms, ammunition surrounding STR. Based on reliable information, search was conducted in the house of the accused.

During the search a country-made gun along with four moulds of steel barrels, two barrel sockets, one welding machine and one axe blade were seized. Mahuldiha police have registered under the Arms Act- 1959 and the accused has been arrested for manufacturing and possessing the gun without license or authority to sell it to local poachers.

During primary investigation it was found that Lohar had supplied the manufactured rifles to some poachers who are identified and raids were conducted on different locations to apprehend them. They have absconded from the area and special teams are formed to arrest all those involved in manufacturing, sale, procurement of these weapons.

PANGOLIN SCALES SEIZED

In a separate search operations based on the intelligence on possession of wildlife article possessed by a poacher as provided by the intelligence cell, a raid was conducted in the house of Mansing Ho, son of Chhotray Ho of Patrapada village under Mahuldiha police limits yesterday along with forest Range Officer, Thakurmunda and forest guard and 110 numbers of Pangolin scale belonging to Schedule I Species under the Wildlife Protection Act,1970 was recovered. In connection with the same Mahuldia police have registered a case. However, the accused Mansing Ho is absconding. Involvement of others in the poaching of the pangolin is under investigation.