Hunter arrested with leopard and deer skin in Boudh

Boudh: The Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha Crime Branch along with officials of Boudh Forest Division arrested a poacher and seized hides of a leopard and two deer from his possession in the district on Saturday.

The arrested has been identified as Girish Kumar Sahoo of Harabhanga.

According to sources, the STF sleuths trapped Sahoo by posing as customer following a tip-off that he was looking at striking a deal for the wildlife parts. The raid was conducted on the road connecting Chhatranga with Harabhanga. A case has been registered under Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 and relevant sections of the IPC and the seized hides will be sent to WII, Derhadun, for biological examination.

Meanwhile, the STF has stepped up investigation, suspecting a well-oiled racket behind smuggling of wildlife parts.