11 Poachers Sentenced for Similipal Tusker Killing in Odisha

Baripada (Odisha): In a landmark judgment, the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Baripada, has sentenced 11 poachers to four years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 each for killing a tusker inside the Similipal Tiger Reserve.

The incident dates back to November 19, 2023, when forest guard Satyanarayan Patra discovered the carcass of a male Asiatic elephant with its tusks and lower mandible removed.

Investigations revealed the involvement of a large gang, with evidence including seized weapons, an iron arrowhead lodged in the elephant’s body, and confessional statements.

While 11 accused were convicted, 12 others remain absconding, and a separate case has been registered against them.

Officials hailed the conviction as a breakthrough in dismantling traditional elephant poaching gangs operating in the Similipal landscape.

This judgment underscores Odisha’s commitment to wildlife conservation and sends a strong message against illegal poaching activities.