Nabarangpur: The Dabugaon Forest Division in Nabarangpur district achieved a major breakthrough on Monday with the seizure of a leopard skin and arrest of five persons allegedly involved in wildlife trafficking, officials said.
Acting on instructions from Divisional Forest Officer Shubhendu Prasad Behera, forest personnel carried out a raid in the Sikili Reserve Forest under Dabugaon block following a tip-off about illegal transportation of wildlife contraband.
According to officials, the accused had procured the leopard skin from Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary and were attempting to transport it to Koraput for sale. Acting on intelligence inputs, forest staff initially laid a trap near Maidalpur village.
However, sensing the presence of officials, the smugglers reportedly altered their route and moved through interior forest areas before reaching Sikili forest near Dabugaon. Forest personnel, who had already positioned themselves strategically, surrounded the group and apprehended two persons on the spot.
Subsequent interrogation led to the detention of three more accomplices from Maidalpur. All five accused were later formally arrested.
The arrested persons have been identified as Arjun Harijan (30) of Bania village, Mihir Harijan (25) of Pokhanaguda, Shiva Kalar (38) and Kedarnath Bisoyi (42) of Maidalpur, and Baichandra Mangli (49) of Gopiguda.
Forest officials seized one leopard skin along with two motorcycles bearing registration numbers OD 24P 2425 and OD 24F 6562 from their possession.
A case has been registered at the Dabugaon Forest Range Office (Case No. 1/2026-27), and further investigation is underway.
The operation was led by Assistant Conservator of Forest Divyamadhuri Sethi, with support from Range Officer Ramachandra Bhatra, Forester Madhusudan Patra, and a team of forest guards and para-forestry staff.
