Notorious poacher escapes from Odisha Forest department custody

A day after his arrest, notorious poacher Rupaya Marndi escaped from the custody of Odisha Forest department in Baripada.

As per reports, Marndi gave the officials a slip from Baripada medical college where he was brought for treatment after his arrest from Udala on Sunday.

“The accused Marndi had some health issues. So he was admitted to the hospital for treatment. He has fled from the hospital. We have formed four teams to nab him. An FIR has also been registered in this connection,” said Baripada DFO, Santosh Kumar Joshi.

“A show-cause notice has also been served to the Range Officer responsible for the slip,” he added.

Marndi was among the three wildlife smugglers arrested during a raid by Baripada Forest Department at Bahalada village in Mayurbhanj on Sunday.

As many as four leopard skins were also seized from their possession.

Acting on a tip-off about the wildlife smuggling from reliable sources, Baripada Forest Department under the leadership of the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) conducted the raid and recovered the leopard skins.