Rayagada: Four persons were arrested by Forest department officials during a raid near Kannapadu under the Naira section of Gudari range in Rayagada district on Friday while they were allegedly involved in trading leopard skin, officials said.
The raid was conducted on the directions of Rayagada Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Sachin Anna Saheb Ohal. The operation was led by Assistant Conservators of Forests (ACFs) Sachidananda Sethi and Satish Kumar Dharua, along with Gunupur Range Officer Pradeep Kumar Acharya.
The arrested persons are being questioned as part of an investigation underway at the Gunupur Range office in the presence of senior Forest department officials.
The department has refrained from disclosing further details, citing the ongoing investigation.
The area has witnessed similar incidents in the past, with several people previously apprehended for their alleged involvement in leopard skin smuggling.
