SEIZURE OF SNAKE VENOM WORTH CRORES EXPOSES RACKET

Pramod Giri, HT, 4 Nov 2016, SILIGURI: The seizure of snake venom worth hundreds of crores by the West Bengal forest department in the past one year has revealed that a section of its officials involved in the raids are themselves siphoning off money.

The revelation on Thursday by one of the most trusted wildlife informers and by the West Bengal Service Employees’ Federation indicate that a conspiracy is being hatched against Sanjay Dutta, the ranger of Belacoba range of Baikantapur forest division, who had seized 11 jars of snake venom and arrested many smugglers.

Angsuman Tarafdar, the adviser of the federation, Darjeeling district committee, said, “We severely condemn the act initiated by Swapan Kumar Majhi, the range officer of Jaldapara wildlife division. Majhi has made a false remark that Sanjay Dutta forced wildlife informer Sudarshan Mohanta to lodge a police complaint against Majhi.”

Mohanta, who was earlier believed to be deputed by Majhi to help him track and seize snake venom and nab the smugglers, helped Dutta seize five jars of snake venom in the second week of October.

Mohanta who claimed to have also helped Dutta seize six jars of snake venom last year, said on Thursday, “It was only after Majhi threatened me that I lodged a police complaint against him.” Mohanta was given Rs 2.20 lakh to help Majhi seize the snake venom.

Mohanta said, “I passed on the information about the snake venom and about the smugglers at the last minute after I knew the objective of Majhi was to siphon off the money and not seize the venom.” Four persons were arrested along with snake venom supposed to be smuggled to China in the second week of October.

Tarafdar, who presented Mohanta before media persons, said, “We firmly believe a conspiracy was hatched to siphon off the transactional money involved in wildlife offence. It is evident that whatever be the money involved, the motive was to first siphon off and then nab the miscreants along with the consignment. If there is any truth in Majhi’s claim then the question arises why was the venom not seized on or before October 13, the day of seizure made by Dutta?

“Majhi’s claim is an obnoxious attempt to malign Sanjay Dutta and to demean his endeavour, honesty, integrity and sincerity in dispensing his duty,” the federation claimed.

NS Murali, chief conservator of forest (wildlife, north), said, “I have asked forest officials to give an explanation.” “We have ordered a probe,” said forest minister Binay Krishna Barman.