In a significant verdict, the Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate’s Court in Kuchinda, Odisha, sentenced Sankirtan Munda, 45, to three years of rigorous imprisonment for illegal wildlife trade. Munda, a resident of Pahadamara village in Deogarh district, was convicted under Section 411 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Alongside the prison sentence, the court also imposed a fine on the convict.
Munda was apprehended on February 15, 2024, by the Special Task Force (STF) of Bhubaneswar on the Kuchinda-Bonaigarh road near Thianala, within the Kuchinda police limits. The STF, in coordination with forest officials, conducted a raid and recovered two leopard hides and other wildlife products from Munda’s possession. He and an accomplice were waiting to deliver the illegal goods to a customer when the authorities intervened. A detailed investigation followed, leading to the submission of a charge sheet against both individuals under Sections 379, 411, and 120-B of the IPC, in addition to the Wildlife (Protection) Act.
STF Inspector Sarita Beuria led the investigation. The STF, Odisha, emphasized the importance of thorough investigations and diligent prosecution in securing convictions in wildlife crime cases. “Offences under the Wildlife (Protection) Act are a priority for the STF, and we will continue our efforts against illegal wildlife poachers and dealers,” stated an STF release.
This case marks the sixth conviction by the STF under the Wildlife Protection Act. Since 2018, when the STF gained the authority to investigate wildlife crimes, it has completed trials in six cases, all resulting in convictions. The national conviction rate for wildlife crime is less than 5%, highlighting the STF’s effectiveness. To date, the STF has registered 101 cases and arrested 232 wildlife criminals, with significant seizures including 59 leopard hides, 27 elephant tusks, 23 pangolins, 42 kg of pangolin scales, two tiger hides, and 11 deer hides.
