Chhattisgarh: Three held with tiger skin, pangolin scales in Surajpur

Preliminary interrogation has indicated the possible involvement of other local and interstate wildlife traffickers in the illegal network.

Published on: Jul 30, 2026, 10:58:29 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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Three people were arrested and a tiger skin and pangolin scales were seized in Chhattisgarh’s Surajpur district during a joint operation by the state forest department and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), officials said on Wednesday.

The operation was launched after the WCCB’s Central Region unit in Bhopal alerted the Surajpur forest division on July 27 about the planned transportation and trafficking of wildlife contraband in the district.

Acting on the input, the divisional forest officer (DFO) of Surajpur constituted a joint team comprising the forest department’s flying squad and WCCB officials. Based on specific intelligence, the team laid a trap and intercepted three suspects near Dharsedi Road at Baijnathpur on the Odgi-Bhaiyathan route.

The arrested accused were identified as Tikeshwar Prasad Rajwade (38), a resident of Dharsedi (Navapara), and Bhukhanlal (55) and Garibalal (56), both residents of Bhanwarkhoh (Amapani) village under Odgi police station limits in Surajpur district.

“During a search conducted in the presence of independent witnesses, officials recovered one tiger skin, pangolin scales and a Honda Shine motorcycle (registration number CG-15 DN 7494), allegedly used for transporting the wildlife contraband. The accused failed to produce any valid documents authorising possession or transport of the seized wildlife articles,” a statement issued by the Chhattisgarh forest department said.

Forest officials prepared the seizure memo at the spot and sealed the tiger skin and pangolin scales in accordance with legal procedures. A forest offence case (No. 809/24) was registered on July 28 under the relevant provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Preliminary interrogation has indicated the possible involvement of other local and interstate wildlife traffickers in the illegal network. Officials said the accused would be taken on remand for further investigation to identify other members of the trafficking syndicate.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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