Bhubaneswar: The Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha Police with the help of Nayagarh Forest Division officials arrested a person and seized a leopard skin from his possession near Khamarsahi under Daspalla police station limits of Nayagarh district on Sunday.
According to an official press release, acting on reliable information, a team of the STF with the help of Nayagarh Forest Division officials conducted a raid on the side of NH-57 near Khamarsahi under Dasapalla police limits in Nayagarh regarding dealing/possession of wildlife products by wildlife criminals on Sunday evening.
During the raid, one wildlife criminal identified as Baikuntha alias Bairagi Behera (44) of Sorada under Nuagoan police limits of Nayagarh district presently residing at Haridabadi under Daspalla police limits was apprehended and a leopard skin along with other incriminating materials were recovered from his possession.
Behera was arrested as he could not produce any authority in support of possession of the leopard skin.
Following Behera’s arrest, STF has registered a case against him under sections 379/411 IPC r/w. Sec.51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 and forwarded him to the Court of JMFC, Dasapalla.
The seized skin will be sent to Director WII, Dehradun for biological examination while further investigation into the matter is underway.
