Rayagada: Three persons were arrested for their alleged involvement in pangolin scale trafficking after forest officials seized 1,130 scales weighing approximately 4.56 kg in Odisha’s Rayagada district, officials said.
The accused have been identified as Jagan Himirika (38), Nilambar Khosla (67) and Purushottam Khosla (48), all residents of the Rayagada Sadar Block area.
Acting on the instructions of the Divisional Forest Officer and under the supervision of the Rayagada Range Officer, forest officials apprehended the three accused in an open field behind the ORMAS office in Rayagada town while they were allegedly preparing to sell the pangolin scales, officials said.
According to reports, the accused were planning to sell the scales to buyers from other districts. However, forest officials intervened before the alleged transaction could be completed and arrested them.
Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Satish Kumar Dharua is investigating the case to ascertain whether other individuals were involved in the alleged illegal wildlife trade.
After their arrest, the accused were taken for medical examinations and subsequently produced before the court for further legal proceedings, officials said.
