Leopard skin seized in Odisha, 1 arrested

Rayagada: On the basis of reliable information, a team of STF conducted a raid in the afternoon on Rayagada – Koraput National Highway No. 326.

According to reports, the raid took place near Siriguda Swargadham square of Rayagada town in Rayagada district.

The raid was conducted regarding dealing and possession of wildlife products by wildlife criminals. As a result of the raid one wildlife criminal identified as Dambrudhar Majhi, the son of Hati Majhi of Naktiguda, Hundibora (Hundibar) of Tikiri police station under Rayagada district was apprehended.

During the search three numbers of Leopard Skin and other incriminating materials were recovered from his possession. The accused person Dambrudhar could not produce any authority in support of possession of such Leopard Skins.

The poacher has been arrested and will be forwarded to the Court of Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrates (SDJM), Rayagada. In this connection Special Task Force (STF) Case under Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 was registered.

The skin will be sent to the Director Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun for biological examination. The investigation in this connection is still underway.