The Wildlife Wing of the State Government has sought the help of the Crime Branch (CB) to probe the antecedents of two tiger poachers who were arrested by Rayagada police last month.
Although their links to the State is yet to be established, the CB has been requested to trail their past activities and share information with the Wildlife Wing.
Bhajan and Rouna, belonging to Baheliya tribe of Madhya Pradesh’s Katni, were arrested near Rayagada railway station on October 26 after being tipped off by the Wildlife Protection Society of India and Maharashtra Forest Department.
Apart from their criminal background, the Wildlife Wing has sought call details of the poachers from Rayagada police as well as their Maharashtra counterpart.
“From whatever information we received, their stay in Rayagada does not give us any lead that they were here for hunting or trade but it is important to know if they operated in the past and their local links, if any. The Crime Branch is equipped to look into the matter given its expertise,” Chief Wildlife warden Janardan Dibakar Sharma told this paper on Saturday.
The duo was wanted in multiple cases of tiger hunting in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra and currently, is in custody of Maharashtra FD.
In fact, the connection of the tribals, who pose as herb seller, with Left Wing ultras is not being ruled out given their area of operation.
Bhajan and Rouna face charges under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, Indian Forest Act, 1927 and Indian Penal Code as well as Maharashtra Control of Organised Crimes Act for hunting tigers in national park and critical tiger habitats including the Melaghat Tiger Project.
* Wildlife Wing had sought call details of the poachers from the Rayagada Police as well as from its Maharashtra counterpart
* The connection of the tribals, who pose as herb sellers, with Left Wing ultras is not being ruled out given their area of operation