Monday, 05 AUGUST 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The Uttarakhand Special Task Force (STF), in a joint operation with the Champawat forest division and the police, arrested a notorious wildlife trafficker and seized two leopard pelts from him. The senior superintendent of police of STF Ayush Agarwal said that the joint operation led by STF inspector MP Singh resulted in the successful arrest of wildlife trafficker Anand Giri with two leopard pelts from Kanwad Bend of the Devidhura forest range in Champawat. He said that Giri is a resident of Mukteshwar in Nainital district and had been allegedly involved in wildlife trafficking for a long time. “Further interrogation will reveal the specifics of the poaching, including the location and method used by the accused or his accomplices to poach the big cats. The Champawat forest division has registered a case under various sections of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, against the accused. The divisionional forest officer, Ramesh Chandra Kandpal also confirmed that the seized leopard pelts appeared to be about two to three years old. The accused has also revealed information about other people associated with wildlife trafficking. The information may lead to the arrest of more culprits within the State. The investigation is ongoing and more accomplices of the accused are expected to be nabbed soon,” the SSP said. He informed that the STF has arrested four wildlife traffickers and seized two elephant tusks and two leopard pelts in separate incidents within just seven days. He also appealed to the public to report any wildlife trafficking activities to their nearest police station or contact the Uttarakhand STF at 0135-2656202.
