Baripada: A joint operation by the forest department and the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) team has led to the arrest of seven persons, including a government school teacher, for their alleged involvement in a leopard skin trafficking racket.
The operation was conducted in various areas of the Kaptipada, Badasahi, Dukurah, and Khunta ranges.
The accused were found to be in possession of three leopard skins, which were seized by the investigating team. The investigation revealed that the leopard skins were being kept at the homes of the accused for worship, with the belief that it would bring them wealth.
The accused have been identified as Raisen Tapeyar from Chandanachaturi village, Manaranjan Tipiria and Guruprasad Patra from Paunsia village, Sermasiri Soren from Kuanrapal village, Champai Murmu from Kutling village, Sunaram Hembram from Balasore district and Amar Kumar Singh from Tenda village under Nilagiri police station.
Similipal Deputy Director Samrat Gouda said that during the investigation, it came to the fore that leopard skins were being kept at the homes of the accused for worship, with the belief that it would bring them wealth. The leopard skins were sourced from Chhattisgarh, and the skins are believed to be old. The investigation is underway, and more arrests are expected in the coming days.
