Rayagada, Sept 19: The Court of Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate, Rayagada on Wednesday convicted two wildlife poachers and sentenced both of them to undergo three years of Rigorous, Imprisonment (R.I) with fine of Rs 10,000 and in default of payment R.I for six months more.
The accused have been identified as Bikram Majhi and Raja Majhi of Suresi village under Bijapur police limits.
According to the report, the STF, Bhubaneswar apprehended the above noted accused persons on Rayagada-Bisamkatak road near Tamparbiduni Chhak under Chandili police limits in Odisha’s Rayagada and recovered two Leopard skins while the accused persons were waiting there to deliver the same, to a customer.
After successful investigation, charge sheet was submitted against both the accused persons U/S 379/411/120, IPCr. W. Sec.
During investigation, the leopard skins were sent to Wild Life, Institute of India, Dehradun for biological chemical examination and opinion was, received affirmatively.
51 the Wild Life, Institute of India, Dehradun for biological chemical examination and opinion was, received affirmatively. Trial was conducted against above noted accused persons where, during trial prosecution has examined 09 witnesses and exhibited 15 documents.
Trial was conducted against above noted accused persons where, during trial prosecution has examined 09 witnesses and exhibited 15 documents.
This is the eighth case of STF where the accused persons were convicted under, Wildlife Protection Act. Till date trial has been completed in 08 Wildlife cases and all, the cases ended in Conviction. Worth mentioning, the conviction rate of, wildlife crime cases in India is less than five per cent.
STF Odisha has taken special efforts to ensure that our investigation is of highest, standards and we meticulously follow our prosecution in the courts so that the cases are brought to logical conviction.
