Bargarh: The controversy surrounding the killing of the Royal Bengal Tiger in Debrigarh sanctuary in Bargarh is yet to die anytime soon.
The Forest and Environment minister had claimed that the carcass was that of a leopard and not of a Royal Bengal Tiger. However, on their arrest, four poachers confessed that it was indeed a Royal Bengal Tiger.
Meanwhile, the Special Task Force (STF) of the State Crime Branch team, which is probing the incident after orders from the CM, has discovered another negligence on the part of a senior forest department official.
A WhatsApp chat of a senior official directing the forest officials to switch off the CCTV cameras is going viral on social media platforms.
During the probe, it was learnt that the DFO had indeed directed the officials to switch off all the CCTV cameras as per the viral chat.
“Even after knowing of the presence of the Royal Bengal Tiger in the sanctuary, under what circumstances did the DFO order switching off of the cameras instead of taking adequate measures to better the security is the question and a probe is on into it,” said Crime Branch ADG Santosh Upadhayay.
The four poachers arrested in this connection will soon be taken on remand by the STF team for further probe, the ADG added.
“A team led by a DSP rank officer has been probing the incident. We will look into it, and find out if there are more people involved in the killing of the animal,” the ADG said adding that the team hopes to get more lead into poachers involved in the killing of wild animals in the sanctuary.
It may be noted here that the carcass of the Royal Bengal Tiger was recovered from a forest in Debrigarh sanctuary October 28. Earlier, the Forest and Environment minister had claimed that the carcass was that of a leopard.
Things took a turn after four poachers—Sushil Bhoi, Satyaban Sahu, Gouri Mirda and Jekria tidu of Khajuria village — were arrested on the charge of killing the tiger. They confessed that it was indeed a Royal Bengal Tiger and was killed after it came in contact with a live 11kv power line drawn by them to kill wild boars.
The STF personnel seized the claws, nails and whisker from their possession. The forest officials had also seized teeth and a bloodstained sling from the spot.
Two officials of the forest department—Kamgaon forester Parshuram Behera and Hajuripada Forest guard Prabhasini Mahananda — have been suspended by the Bargarh DFO, for dereliction of duty in connection with the death of the tiger.
PNN