Odisha forest officials arrest two poachers for possessing leopard skin

BERHAMPUR: Forest officials on Saturday arrested two persons for allegedly possessing leopard skin and a country gun in Kalinga forest section area under G Udayagiri forest range of Kandhamal. The accused were identified as Bhabani Sankar Pradhan (23) of Malansuga village and Promod Pradhan (55) of Gambhariguda village.

During patrolling, the forest sleuths nabbed Bhabani with a bag containing leopard skin at Baba chowk. During interrogation, he said the hide was provided to him by Promod to sell.

The team then raided Promod’s house in Gambhariguda and seized a country gun, a knife and a mobile phone from his possession. Promod was subsequently arrested.