Orangutan Trafficking Probe in Odisha: BJD Demands CBI, NIA, IB Investigation, BJP Opposes Politicisation
Bhubaneswar, Sept 8: The rescue of five infant orangutans from Bhograi forest in Baleshwar has sparked a political and security debate in Odisha.
Bhograi MLA Goutam Buddha Das (BJD) demanded a multi‑agency probe by the CBI, NIA, and IB, warning that the trafficking of non‑native species raises grave national security concerns.
He argued that porous coastal and rural routes could equally enable the smuggling of arms, drugs, or even terrorists into sensitive defence zones.
Das urged the strengthening of marine police stations along Odisha’s coast to prevent further infiltration.
In contrast, BJP MLA Irasish Acharya rejected the demand, insisting that the STF and Wildlife Crime Control Bureau are already investigating professionally and cautioning against politicising the issue.
National voices have also weighed in.
Former Union Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh suggested the involvement of an international smuggling syndicate, while OPCC president Bhakta Charan Das stressed that orangutans, not native to India, must be rehabilitated in suitable habitats such as the Northeast or Western Ghats.
The case highlights both the vulnerability of Odisha’s borders and the urgent need for coordinated enforcement against wildlife trafficking.
