Three arrested from Daltonganj; mastermind received hunting training in Rajasthan
Jamshedpur Forest Department arrested three individuals for smuggling leopard skin and other wildlife products from Daltonganj.
JAMSHEDPUR – Forest officials nabbed three men from Daltonganj for smuggling leopard skin and wildlife products, exposing a sophisticated network.
The Jamshedpur Forest Department has made a significant breakthrough in wildlife protection efforts, arresting three individuals from Daltonganj on charges of smuggling leopard skin and other wildlife products.
Zakir Hussain, Dineshwar Yadav, and Vijay Yadav, all residents of Palamu, were apprehended during a three-day raid conducted by a special team led by Ranger Digvijay Singh.
This operation followed the earlier arrests of Ashok Vishwakarma, Sam Kujur, and Pintu Kujur on similar charges.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Saba Ahmed revealed during a press conference that the arrests stemmed from information obtained during Vishwakarma’s interrogation.
"The raid resulted in the recovery of leopard skin, traps, deer horns, rabbit bones, Seoul teeth, and other forest products," stated DFO Ahmed.
Zakir Hussain, believed to be the mastermind, reportedly received specialized hunting training in Rajasthan.
The gang operated with a well-organized structure, assigning specific roles to each member.
DFO Ahmed explained, "After killing the animals, they would meticulously skin them and sell the pelts at premium prices."
The investigation uncovered plans to smuggle leopard skins from Daltonganj to Jamshedpur, with the intention of shipping them overseas.
Local collaborators were found to be assisting the hunters in exchange for financial incentives.
"We are intensifying our efforts to capture additional gang members and dismantle the entire network," DFO Ahmed emphasized.
He added, "Two smugglers managed to escape during the raid, but we are actively pursuing leads to apprehend them."
The forest department is urging the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities related to wildlife smuggling.
"Protecting our wildlife is a collective responsibility, and we will continue to take strict action against those who threaten our natural heritage," concluded DFO Ahmed.
The arrested individuals are in police custody as investigations continue to trace the remaining members of the smuggling network.
