Baripada, June 4: In a major breakthrough, police have arrested the prime accused in a case of illegal ammunition trade linked to poaching activities in the Similipal Wildlife Sanctuary. The accused, identified as Chittaranjan Giri (62), a resident of Dhovanishola village under Bangiriposhi police station in Mayurbhanj district, was allegedly purchasing bullets using his licensed firearm and illegally supplying them to poachers.
According to police sources, a case (No. 139) was registered at Bangiriposhi police station on May 25 following intelligence inputs regarding illegal bullet transactions. Acting on the directives of the Mayurbhanj Superintendent of Police, IIC Birendra Senapati led an investigation that eventually pinpointed Giri’s involvement.
Earlier, three poachers were arrested in connection with illegal hunting inside Similipal Sanctuary. During interrogation, they revealed that the bullets used for poaching were supplied by Giri. The Forest Department, suspecting irregularities in the ammunition seized, sought the help of the police to trace the source.
The investigation revealed that the bullets matched those used in muzzle-loading guns typically owned by licensed firearm holders. This led authorities to keep surveillance on 16 licensed gun owners in the Bangiriposhi area. Giri emerged as a primary suspect during this probe.
Following a raid at his residence, police arrested Giri and seized one licensed firearm (manufactured in England) along with four live rounds. Additionally, 35 purchase receipts for over 954 bullets bought from licensed arms dealers in Balasore, Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, and Medinipur were recovered.
Police allege that Giri had been involved in the illegal sale of ammunition since 2015, supplying bullets to poachers for wildlife hunting. They also suspect that he may have links to a broader illegal arms trade network.
“We had been monitoring him for several days. Based on evidence, we conducted a raid and arrested him. Further investigation is underway to identify others involved in the network,” said Bangiriposhi IIC Birendra Senapati.
Giri was produced before court and will be taken on police remand for further interrogation. Police aim to uncover the full extent of the ammunition trade and its connection to organized poaching activities in the region.
