Forest teams suspect statewide poaching network in leopard killing:Dog squad tracks trail to farmhouse, officials question landowners, seek call records and location

The investigation into the killing of a three-year-old male leopard in the Double Chowki area of Indore forest range has intensified, with fresh evidence pointing toward an organised poaching network operating around the Garhi beat. Forest teams resumed the search, questioning multiple suspects and inspecting farms and fields after the dog squad traced the trail to a nearby farmhouse. Indore Forest Division has set up a three-member inquiry panel parallel to the State Tiger Strike Force (STSF) probe. Investigators find snare at a farm; suspects deny role On the second day of the probe, officials recovered a clutch-wire snare installed in a field nearly 500 metres from the farmhouse flagged on Sunday. The farm owner claimed the trap was set to deter wild boars, but investigators say the condition of the carcass and the wire used match typical poaching methods. Several suspects were questioned through the day, including the farmhouse owner and adjoining landholders. All denied involvement, but forest officers say their statements contradict material evidence found at the site. The department is now securing their Call Detail Records (CDR) to verify movements and communication. Doubts deepen as signs show kill site was elsewhere The leopard’s mutilated carcass was found on Saturday evening in a roadside pit near village Garhi with front paws severed, nails removed and upper canines cut with a sharp mechanical tool. Post-mortem findings confirmed death due to severe blood loss from a tightened snare.
However, investigators found no signs of struggle at the dump site, strengthening the suspicion that the animal was killed elsewhere and later dumped to mislead teams. Poaching gang suspected active in the region Sources indicate a group involved in wild boar poaching may be linked to the case. Hunters from areas around Dewas and Karanavat are known to frequent Double Chowki, and villagers have confirmed unusual activity in recent days. The State Tiger Strike Force (STSF) and forest officials are jointly pursuing these leads. Farmhouse, sheds and fields searched; dog squad leads probe The sniffer dog searched huts, storage rooms and the farmhouse perimeter on Sunday and Monday. Teams seized several objects for examination and expanded the search across a three-kilometre radius. Officials say the trail ending at the farmhouse is a significant lead. Mobile tower data to be scanned Senior officials have written to telecom companies seeking tower location logs from Double Chowki, Garhi, Udaynagar and nearby zones. Based on evidence at the scene, investigators believe the poaching spot and dump location are different. Tower data will help track which numbers were active across these areas during the suspected window of the kill. Three-member committee formed, report due in seven days Taking the case seriously, the Indore Forest Division has set up a three-member inquiry panel comprising SDO Yohan Katara, Dhirendra Singh and Ranger Sangeeta Thakur. The team has been directed to complete its investigation and submit a detailed report within seven days, parallel to the ongoing STSF probe. Teams continue search for poaching network With mutilation patterns confirming targeted poaching and fresh leads emerging from farm inspections, the Forest Department is now focused on identifying the original kill site, pinpointing the group responsible and tracking the movement of the animal parts believed to have been taken for the illegal wildlife trade.