Officials seize Deer Horns, Wild Animals from Jeypore Ashram

Jeypore, Nov 4:  Police and forest officials conducted raids at Tofani Baba Ashram in Jeypore sub-division on Wednesday. During the raid at ashram located at Sauraguda in Jeypore police jurisdiction, the officials seized deer horns, turtles, barking deer, gunduri birds and monkey.

Besides, the wild animals, the officials have also seized liquor and money from the ashram. Tophan Mohanty alias Tofani Baba, a self-proclaimed godman, is the own the ashram. He said that he has not confined the animals in the ashram.

The officials raided the ashram after getting complaint from local villagers about wild animals’ confinement in the ashram by the godman. The raids were conducted in the presence of local tehsildar.  The forest officials said that proper action would be taken against the owner of the ashram, who said to be still at large.