Bhubaneswar: The Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha Crime Branch on Wednesday seized one leopard skin with the arrest of one wildlife criminal near Gambharimunda village under Banpur Police Station in Khordha district.
On the basis of reliable information, a team of STF team had conducted a raid by the roadside near the village yesterday and the accused person namely Ratnakar Sahoo of Padmapurpatana village under Banpur Police Station was apprehended.
During the search, one leopard skin and other incriminating articles were seized from his possession. He could not produce any authority in support of the possession of the leopard skin, for which he has been arrested.
A case in this regard has been registered U/s. 379/411/120(B) IPC r/w. 51 of Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 The seized leopard skin will be sent to Wild Life Institute of India, Dehradun, for chemical examination.
Since 2020, a special drive against wildlife criminals/poachers has been launched. STF has seized as many as 22 leopard skins, 12 elephant tasks, 7 deer skins, 8 live pangolins, and 15 kg pangolin scales with the arrest of as many as 51 wildlife criminals.
