A special team of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Gujarat, raided a location in Jayapur and seized a leopard skin, officials confirmed on Tuesday. One person was arrested in connection with the alleged wildlife trade.
The accused has been identified as Bibhuti Bhushan Patra, a resident of Irrigation Colony in Jayapur. According to Jayapur Divisional Forest Officer Prashant Kumar Patel, the DRI team conducted the operation on Monday and later handed over the seized leopard skin, the accused, and the vehicle allegedly used in the crime to the Jayapur Forest Division.
“Yesterday, a parallel operation was conducted here by the DRI Gujarat team. The leopard skin was seized and handed over to our department. One leopard skin and one accused were found. Further investigation is now underway to ascertain where the skin came from and establish its backward and forward linkages,” Patel said.
Preliminary information suggests the leopard may have been killed around six months ago. Officials are probing when and where the animal was killed, how the skin reached Jayapur, and who else may be involved. The seized vehicle is also under examination.
The Forest Department has launched a detailed investigation to trace the wildlife crime network, focusing on both backward and forward linkages of the illegal trade.
