13 August, New Delhi: Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) teams in Goa and Mumbai have made eight arrests and collected leopard skins, one of which belonged to a serving policeman of the Jammu and Kashmir Police.
According to the DRI, the teams initiated an operation after the organisation gathered evidence that certain criminal organisations in Srinagar (J&K) were engaged in the illicit wildlife trade and were seeking consumers for leopard skins.
As a result, a comprehensive strategy to capture the gang members was developed.
“Mumbai Zonal Unit (Goa Regional Unit) officials posed as purchasers and travelled to Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. The first leopard skin arrived at the agreed upon location near Dalgate in Srinagar after numerous rounds of haggling. Near the predetermined location, officers conducting surveillance apprehended the individual carrying the leopard skin. The officer stated that thanks to his tip, another conspirator was nabbed in a public spot in Srinagar.
After the first capture was made, the person added, intensive talks proceeded with a different group of vendors. The vendors agreed to deliver three leopard skins to the agreed upon place in the morning after an overnight discussion.
Three persons were apprehended while transporting the illegal goods (three leopard skins). There were three additional people involved in the transaction waiting nearby in a public spot, according to the leads provided by information acquired from them.
Two police teams were sent racing to the scene, and they quickly apprehended the three suspects. Four Leopard (Panthera pardus) skins were discovered, and eight people, including a police officer, were apprehended in connection with this illicit wildlife trade, according to the DRI.
According to the official, early investigations point to poaching in Ladakh, Doda, and Uri as the likely origin of the leopards.
According to section 50(1)(c) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, the four leopard skins at issue were confiscated.
After initial seizure procedures under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, the contraband and the eight people who committed the crime were turned over to the officers of the Department of WildLife Protection, Jammu and Kashmir.-(IANS)
