Deogarh: Forest Department staff raided a dhaba in Barkot Banachal Thianal section on Sunday and seized a leopard skin. Seven people, including two from Rajasthan, have been arrested in this connection and two motorbikes and a mobile phone were seized from them.
The arrested include Ashok Bishnoi (20) of Adi village in Jodhpur district of Rajasthan, Ajaypal Bishnoi (21) of Kaparda police station, Mansingh Bari (64) of Rajmunda village under Barakot police limits, Ramesh Chandra Naik (42) of Jharbahal village, Rajendra Rana (40) of Gursang village, Karmu Naik (61) of Dahisanal village, and Birbar Nahak (52) of Sanbagadri village.
According to reports, Forest Department officials received a tip-off about a dhaba selling leopard skins in Rajmunda village under Barakot police limits. They raided the dhaba and arrested seven people and seized a leopard skin. However, some other people involved in the crime managed to flee the spot.
Meanwhile, the Forest Department has started an investigation into the incident to find out where the leopard was hunted.