Nabarangpur: The Forest Department officials seized a Royal Bengal Tiger skin and arrested one person during an undercover operation in Nabarangpur district, officials said on Saturday.
The operation was carried out in the Patri Reserve Forest under the Dabugaon Forest Range after forest authorities received specific intelligence inputs regarding illegal trafficking of tiger skin in the region.
According to Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Udayan Subuddhi, a special team was constituted under Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Subash Chandra Khuntia and Dabugaon Range Officer Ramachandra Bhatra to verify the information and apprehend those involved.
Acting on the tip-off, forest personnel reached the Patri Reserve Forest area behind the Patri Gram Panchayat office and posed as prospective buyers. During the operation, they identified a suspect allegedly attempting to sell a Royal Bengal Tiger skin concealed inside a bag.
The team successfully apprehended the main accused while pretending to negotiate the purchase. However, two of his associates managed to escape into the forest after sensing the presence of the enforcement team.
Forest officials seized the tiger skin, which had reportedly been stitched and was being offered for sale at a price of ₹10 lakh. A motorcycle used by the accused was also recovered during the operation.
The arrested accused has been identified as Shibun Takri, a resident of Patra village under Dabugaon police station limits. During the preliminary investigation, officials found that Takri works as a pastor.
A case has been registered under relevant wildlife protection laws, and further investigation is underway to ascertain the source of the tiger skin and identify other members of the suspected trafficking network.
Efforts are continuing to trace and arrest the two absconding accused, the DFO said.
