Nuapada: The Khariar Forest Division in Nuapada district has arrested three persons and rescued a live pangolin during a raid conducted as part of a crackdown on wildlife smuggling along the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border, officials said.
The arrested persons have been identified as Balkrushna Hati, 30, and Sonu Hati, 40, both from Ranimunda village under Khariar police station, and Roshan Thakur, 31, of Pithapada in Chhattisgarh’s Gariaband district.
Acting on a tip-off about the illegal trade in pangolins, a Forest Department team conducted a surprise raid under the direction of Khariar Forest Range Officer Aziz Khan. The operation was carried out near the Palama-Jharnala government pump house under the Ranimunda Beat of Khariar Range, where the team rescued the live pangolin.
The seized pangolin weighed 7.098 kg and is estimated to have a value of several lakh rupees in the international illegal wildlife market.
Forest officials suspect that the arrested persons were involved in pangolin smuggling in the border areas of Odisha and Chhattisgarh. The three accused were subsequently produced before a court.
Officials said further investigation is underway to ascertain whether other persons are involved in the illegal trade and whether a larger wildlife smuggling network is operating in the region.
