DRI officials seized 4 Leopard Skins in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir; 8 involved accused arrested

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) was launched an operation after receiving a lead via specific intelligence over a period of time that a couple of gangs from the area of Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir are involved in illegal trade of wildlife and were in search of prospective buyers for the sale of leopard skins. As per details received, a detailed plan was made to arrest the members of the gangs.

Officer of Mumbai Zonal Unit (Goa Regional Unit) reached Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir to pose as a buyers.

After various rounds of negotiations with the buyer, the sellers delivered the first leopard skin to a pre-arranged location near Dalgate in Srinagar.

Surveillance officers apprehended a person carrying a leopard skin near the targeted location. Based on his information, another associate was also captured in a public spot in Srinagar.

After obtaining the first catch, the rounds of intensive bargaining with another gang of sellers were resumed. Following midnight talks, sellers agreed to deliver three leopard skins to a predetermined place. Three persons were arrested while transporting the contraband (3 leopard skins).

The leads produced by the information they provided suggested that three additional people involved in the transaction were waiting nearby in a public spot. Two teams of cops were promptly sent and three people were arrested in a public spot.

Thus, total 8 persons involved in this illegal trading of wild life, including one serving police constable, were intercepted and total 4 skins of Leopard (Panthera pardus) were recovered. Initial investigation suggested that the leopards were poached from Ladakh, Doda and Uri.

The four leopard skins in concern were seized in accordance with Section 50(1)(c) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, as amended.

The seized contraband and the 8 persons who committed the offence under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 were handed over to the officials of Department of Wild Life Protection, Jammu and Kashmir after initial seizure proceedings under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.