Bhubaneswar: The Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha Crime Branch on Wednesday seized two leopard skins with the arrest of two wildlife criminals near S.C.B. Junior College, Ragdha, under Betanati police limits in Mayurbhanj district.
On the basis of reliable information, a team of STF with the help of Betanati Forest Officials had conducted a raid and apprehended the accused persons namely Prasanta Kumar Mohanty of Kuamara village and Gora Bindhani of Balijuda village.
During the search, two leopard skins and other incriminating articles were seized from their possession. The accused persons could not produce any authority in support of the possession of the leopard skins, for which they were detained and handed over to Baripada Forest Officials for legal action at their end.
The seized leopard skins will be sent to Wild Life Institute of India, Deharadun for chemical examination.
Since 2020, a special drive against wildlife criminals/poachers has been launched. STF has seized as many as 24 leopard skins, 12 elephant tasks, 7 deer skins, 9 live pangolins, and 15 kg pangolin scales with the arrest of as many as 54 wildlife criminals.
