STF Indore has nabbed an absconding miscreant carrying a reward of Rs 5000 and seized hides of rare specie of Leopard, ‘King Leopard’ which fetches massive money in International market; three aides have been arrested earlier in the poaching case.
The STF was tipped after forest department was alerted by CBI Maharastra regarding selling of skin of rare Leopard and Tiger after they are poached in forest in Maharastra.
Acting of the tip off ‘Operation LESKNOW III’ was launched and details of accused were collected and movement of the accused and his aides were tracked which helped to track him and later nabbing him. The operation is Lesser Known Species.
During the investigation it was revealed that it is the only Leopard in Asian region which fetches big money in International market.
The Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest has announced a cash reward of Rs 5000 to forest department team involved in the operation.
The STF SP Padmvilochan Shukla has also announced reward for the team which nabbed the accused.
The nabbed accused identified as Gaffar alias Bhaiyyu (42) of Chandan Nagar Indore remained absconding for the past 10 months and was carrying a reward of Rs 5000. He works as a driver.
It is one of the rarest species and is found in South Africa. This is the first case which has been found in the country.
Earlier, Shakir Maulana of Dewas, Shiv Baba of Sendhwa and Baldev alias Ballu of Sendhwa have been nabbed. Baldev is in jail while Shakir and Shiv Baba are out on bail.
In the initial investigation it was found that the skin of rare species of Leopard ‘morph’ and the Leopard ‘Melanistic Leopard’ is found in Western Ghats and possibly it reached to Sendhwa and central Maharashtra forest region where accused poached the Leopard.
After the Leopard was poached forest department searched for the poachers and nabbed few poachers with nails and paws but the main accused Gaffar managed to escape with the skin around a year
ago.
The skin would be sent to Hyderabad laboratory for identifying the region from where the Leopard belonged and it was also be matched that the nails and paws found a year ago are of the same Leopard.