Leopard skins seized in Chhattisgarh’s Gariyaband, 2 arrested

In the last year, Gariyaband police have seized seven leopard skins, mainly from villages bordering Odisha

Published on: Jan 20, 2021, 10:18:02 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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With the seizure of two leopard skins from Gariyaband district, police claimed to have busted a gang of leopard skin smugglers on Tuesday, which has been active in the district for the last few years.

Police have arrested two smugglers who belong to Kalahandi district of Odisha and are investigating the case further.

In the last year, Gariyaband police have seized seven leopard skins, mainly from villages bordering Odisha, senior officials said.

“We have arrested two men, both from Kalahandi (Odisha), in connection with the smuggling of two leopard skins. Both are booked under sections of Wildlife Act and we are investigating,” said superintendent of police (SP) , Gariyaband, Bhojram Patel.

Also Read: Woman Maoist carrying ₹8 lakh bounty arrested in Chhattisgarh

The SP further said that on Monday, police were tipped off that two persons were trying to sell leopard skins in a village.

“ A team cordoned off the area. Later, police arrested one Ramesh Nayak who had hidden two leopard skins in a plastic bag. The other man Keshav Manjhi was booked under similar sections,” said the SP, adding that they are interrogating both men.

Police said that since most ofUdanti Tiger Reserve, which borders Odisha, is Maoist area, these poachers enter easily and hunt down the animals.

Last year, police also seized a live pangolin which had been smuggled from this area.

Officials claimed that in Gariyaband , leopards been found in nearly every part of the district and police are suspicious about a big gang active in this region.

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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