The Odisha Forest Department has busted an active poaching and smuggling ring, seizing a massive tiger skin near a temple in Rayagada district.
Four individuals, including a temple priest, have been arrested in connection with the case.
The joint operation was carried out by forest personnel from the Gunupur and Gudari ranges, acting under the direct instructions of the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) and in the immediate presence of two Assistant Conservators of Forests (ACFs).
The raid unfolded near the Kannpadu temple within the Naira section of the Gudari range. According to officials, the temple priest, Gouri Shankar Rana, attempted to flee the spot while clutching the illicit animal pelt but was swiftly overpowered and detained by vigilant forest personnel.
Following a detailed preliminary probe, the forest department apprehended three other accomplices, bringing the total number of arrests to four. The accused have been identified as:
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Gouri Shankar Rana (Temple Priest, resident of Derigaon Panchayat, Padmapur block)
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Sriram Patra (Native of Sheragada, Ganjam district, residing in Padmapur)
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Philip Bidika (Retired school teacher from Padmapur block)
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Maren Mallick (Resident of Tajungia Padasahi, Kandhamal district)
Seizures and Dimensions
During the raid, enforcement teams recovered incriminating evidence from the possession of the accused. The seized items include:
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One tiger skin (measuring an impressive 250 cm in length and 107 cm in width)
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Three motorcycles
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Four mobile phones
Uncovering the Smuggling Network
With the poachers now in custody, the forest department has launched an intensive investigation to trace the roots of the trafficking network. Authorities are currently probing where the tiger was originally hunted, whether it was killed within local sanctuaries or brought in from another region, and whether other high-profile syndicate members are involved in the illicit wildlife trade.
