In a significant crackdown on wildlife crime, forest department officials in Odisha's Jajpur district have apprehended four individuals from a tribal community for the alleged killing of protected monkeys. The operation, which unfolded on Thursday night, led to the recovery of body parts from four rhesus macaque monkeys and the tools used in the poaching.
Forest Raid Yields Crucial Evidence
Acting on specific intelligence, a team from the Sukinda forest range conducted a targeted raid in the Daitari reserve forest near the Nagada hillock. The swift action resulted in the seizure of incriminating materials from the suspects. The recovered items included the hides and meat of four rhesus macaque monkeys, clearly indicating the scale of the poaching activity.
Beyond the animal remains, officials confiscated the equipment allegedly used in the crime. The haul comprised four traps, three nets, and two sharp weapons. Furthermore, three bikes used by the accused for transportation were also impounded as part of the investigation.
Legal Action and Judicial Custody
Satyabrat Pradhan, the Forest Range Officer of Sukinda forest range, confirmed the legal steps taken against the arrested men. "All the arrested men were booked under relevant sections of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972," stated Pradhan. The stringent act prescribes serious penalties for hunting protected species like the rhesus macaque.
The accused were presented before a local court on Friday, the day following their arrest. The court, taking a stern view of the allegations, rejected their bail applications. Consequently, all four individuals have been remanded to judicial custody as the legal proceedings advance.
A Blow Against Wildlife Crime
This arrest highlights the ongoing challenges in protecting wildlife in forested regions and the continued efforts by authorities to curb such activities. The rhesus macaque is listed under Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, granting it protection from hunting and trade. Enforcement actions like this raid in the Nagada forest under the Sukinda forest range serve as a deterrent and underscore the legal consequences of violating India's wildlife laws. The case continues to be under investigation.
