Mandla Bichhia police arrested two accused with leopard skin. Acting on a tip-off, Bichhia Police arrested the skin smugglers. They are residents of Chhattisgarh and Dindori district. The arrested accused have been identified as Narbad Singh, son of Sughar Singh Markam (45), a resident of Fitari police station Samnapur Dindori district, Sehtar Singh Markam, son of Tirthram Markam (51), resident of village Singhari police station Bodla district Kabirdham (Chhattisgarh). Police have seized leopard skin and a bike (CG09 JH5988) from the accused. Superintendent of Police, Mandla, Rajat Saklecha has directed all the police station/outpost in-charges to curb illegal activities in their respective police station/outpost areas and take effective action. Police stations and outposts attached to the National Park have been directed to identify and collect information regarding protection of wildlife and people hunting wild animals and to take immediate action on such information.

During this, on April 17, information was received by informer at Thana Bichhia police station that two people carrying leopard skin in a blue bag on a motorcycle had come to Sijhaura from Chhattisgarh to sell it. Coming towards Mandla from National Highway. By giving above information to senior officers, Bichhia police took immediate action and sent police team to lay siege to suspected motor-bike and verify the information. Blockade action was taken by police at village Padariya Tiraha on National Highway.

During blockade, a red bike was seen coming as per informer, which was cordoned off by Bichhia police team, after getting information about the name and address of motorcycle and suspects, the bag was searched. During search, the accused identified themselves as Narbad Singh and Sehtar Singh Markam. Leopard skin was wrapped in a plastic bag was found with the accused in a blue bag. By taking the accused into custody, inquiring about the leopard skin and seizing leopard’s skin (leather) and motor cycle, the act of both the accused under section 2, 9, 39, 49B, 50, 51 of IPC. Due to the finding of the Living(Animal) Protection Act 1972, crime number 161/2023 was registered in police station Bachhia and taken into consideration, the accused were arrested and presented in the court. Action was taken under the leadership of Sub-Divisional Officer Police Bichhia, Police Station in-charge Bichhia Inspector KS Pendro, Sub-Inspector Jagdish Pandre, Assistant Sub-Inspector Dhanpal Bisen along with police station staff played an important role. The team of Wildlife Crime Research Bureau was also present during the proceedings.