Raw venison seized, former sarpanch arrested

Kendrapada, Jun 17 (UNI) Three people, including a former sarpanch and brother of a Homeguard, were arrested on the charges of killing a deer by entering illegally into the protected Ashokajhar forest under Sukinda Forest Range in Orissa.

The three were arrested after officials of the forest range conducted a joint raid with Sukinda police on Monday last at Haridabahala village.

The forest officials had also seized raw venison of about 10 kg from the arrested, Sukinda Ranger Rajanikanta Mohanty said.

The accused were identified as Sarat Mahant, a former sarpanch of Lembo Gram Panchayat, Rangadhar Mahant, brother of a Homeguard and a fellow villager Naba Mahant.

All of them were natives of Haridabahala village.

During interrogation, the trio had confessed to the killing of antelope for organising a feast in their houses to celebrate Raja festivity.

The seized venison was sent to the local animal husbandry unit for conducting an autopsy and later buried after registering a wildlife case.

All the three were produced before a local court under Wildlife Protection (Prevention) Act, 1972 and remanded to jail custody.

UNI XC-DP SJC PY BST1854