Even as the State Government has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the cases of poaching and concealment of elephant deaths in Athagarh Forest Division, two wildlife forums have expressed unhappiness over non-inclusion of an independent expert in the SIT.
They said that it could lead to a biased investigation since the role of many unscrupulous officials of the Forest department is under question.
In a letter to Additional Chief Secretary, Forest and Environment Department, Mona Sharma, Wildlife Society of Orissa secretary Biswajit Mohanty, and Animal Welfare Trust Ekamra secretary Purabi Patra have requested to include in the team an expert with substantial experience of detection of wildlife crime, and at thesame time who has not received any State Government funds in the past as grant or aid either in his personal capacity or through his affiliated organisation.
“While we are happy to note that two senior officers of the Forest department and a senior officer of the STF, Crime Branch are part of the SIT, we are disappointed that the team does not have any non Government independent person,” they said, adding, “You will agree
hat most of the team members may face possible questions on conflict of interest being part of the same department, more so since the department has found serious lapse by their own staff and officers.”
They also offered to suggest a suitable name to be included in the SIT to ensure a fair probe.
