IN A major achievement for the crime branch, two tiger skins worth crores in the international market were seized and a skin smuggler-cum-poacher was arrested in the raid conducted in Mhow today.
According to DSP Crime Anil Mishra, they had been receiving information of trafficking in animal hides in the region. As the State was rich in flora and fauna and had the maximum number of big cats, the branch had put the matter on top priority. Recently some specific information was received from police sources about a smuggler-cum-poacher operating from Mhow.
Following the lead they planned a raid under the direction of Superintendent of Police (SP) and descended on the house located at Ayodhyapuri Kataria that was pinpointed by the sleuths. In the raid the police recovered two tiger skins and arrested Dinesh Kilotra. Apart from the skins, an automatic pistol of UK make along with an empty magazine was also recovered from him.
During preliminary investigation the accused revealed that he was an ex-Armyman and served as a constable before leaving his unit in 1996. The police believe that either he was a deserter or had been kicked out by the Army.
Kilotra also revealed that he used to sell animal hides to various clients at different places all over the country and sometimes accompanied poachers on their hunting trips. The name of one Pratap from Dhar district emerged as one of his suppliers and Mishra claimed that once loaded with full information the crime branch would conduct raids on several locations in and around the region shortly.
During preliminary investigation the accused revealed that he was an ex-Armyman and served as a constable before leaving his unit in 1996. The police believe that either he was a deserter or had been kicked out by the Army.
Kilotra also revealed that he used to sell animal hides to various clients at different places all over the country and sometimes accompanied poachers on their hunting trips. The name of one Pratap from Dhar district emerged as one of his suppliers and Mishra claimed that once loaded with full information the crime branch would conduct raids on several locations in and around the region shortly.
With this arrest and some other arrests in similar incidents in the district in the recent past, police hope that they would be able to break the back of the ring operating this hideous business.