ମତ: ଭୋକର ବିକଳ ଚିତ୍ର
Nayagarh, April 2: Unearthing yet another wildlife smuggling racket in the State, the officials of Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha Crime Branch seized a leopard skin and arrested two persons by conducting a raid in Nayagarh on Friday.
Based on a tip-off the STF raided a house where the poacher was found with a leopard skin and took them into custody. He was allegedly making a deal with an aide to sell the skin at a cost of Rs 4 lakh.
One of the STF members posed as a customer and caught the accused duo red-handed.
Notably, the illegal wildlife trade has started flourishing in the State over the past couple of years. In a similar incident on October 20 in Mayurbhanj district. Forest Department officials had seized a leopard skin by conducting a raid in the Katas village under Bisoyi Forest Range.
At least five poachers had been taken into custody during the raid.
