Hornbill Beak Seized in Odisha: Police Role Under Investigation
In a rare wildlife crime case, the Rajnagar Forest Department has seized a Schedule I species hornbill beak, locally known as Bajrakapta Kati, from Pattamundai police station area.
This marks the first such seizure reported from the Bhitarkanika region.
Three suspects were arrested, and their mobile phones revealed incriminating evidence of interstate smuggling activities involving elephant tusks and hornbill parts.
Investigators believe the seized beak was brought from Jajpur and was being prepared for sale in Kolkata for nearly Rs 7 lakh.
The development has sparked questions about the role of local police. Allegations suggest that Pattamundai police may have overlooked the smuggling racket despite its presence in their jurisdiction.
The Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) confirmed that the Inspector‑in‑Charge (IIC) of Pattamundai police station will also be questioned as part of the expanded investigation.
Authorities are now probing deeper into the interstate links of the accused, with wildlife crime experts warning that hornbill trafficking poses a grave threat to biodiversity and conservation efforts in Odisha.
