Bhubaneswar, June 1: The SDJM Court in Bargarh has handed down a three-year rigorous imprisonment (RI) sentence and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on Satyaban Sahu from Khajuria village under Bhatli police limits. This verdict comes after Sahu was found guilty of violating section 51 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

As per an official press release, Sahu was apprehended by the Special Task Force (STF), Bhubaneswar, on November 24, 2020. During his apprehension, a leopard skin and other wildlife products were seized from his possession.

This marks the fifth conviction under the Wildlife Protection Act by the STF, with all five cases concluded with convictions. Notably, the conviction rate for wildlife crime cases in India stands at less than five percent.

STF Odisha has made concerted efforts to uphold the highest standards of investigation. As the specialized wing of the Odisha Police tasked with curbing organized crime and wildlife offenses in the state, the STF has made tackling violations of the Wildlife (Protection) Act a priority focus area.

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