Leopard killing: 3 months on,no arrests

More than three months after villagers,allegedly incited by a few journalists,killed a young leopard that had strayed into a forest plantation near Bhubaneswar,not a single arrest has been made with wildlife officials accusing the police of not cooperating.

Bhubaneswar DFO Jayant Dash,who wrapped up the probe about a week ago,said the forest department has not been able to arrest a single accused as the police is yet to respond to his requests. As the number of accused would be about 400,we sought help of Bhubaneswar police. In the last one month,I have requested the police three times to send force for joint raid. But the police are not responding, Dash said.

Though only six villagers have been in the probe report,the number was expected to grow after they are arrested. We could name only six people who were spotted clearly in the pictures taken by TV cameras. Once those six are arrested,we are going to round up the others who took part in the killing, said Dash. We will also charge the TV journalists who abetted the act. No one will be spared.