Jeypore: Deer horns, turtle, gunduri, barking deer, sambara and monkey were seized from an ashram at Sauraguda under Jeypore block during a joint raid of Forest dept and police in presence of local tehsildar on Wednesday.
Besides, the Forest department personnel seized cash and liquor from the ashram.
The raid was conducted following the allegations were leveled that wild animals were kept at the ashram illegally.
Reacting to the seizure of the wild animals, the ashram chief Tophan Mohanty said in a telephonic interview with the channel, "I don't know about the raid of the Forest department and police. The could have asked me to depose for questioning."
Mohanty sternly declined that any wild animals were being kept at the ashram.
Further, he stated sacrifice of animals are being performed at the ashram during Dusshera and other religious dates to appease the deity.
On being asked whether he would surrender before the police, Mohanty said after two or three days he would return to the ashram and decide about his future steps.