Crime Branch STF Seizes Leopard Skin in Odisha

Bureau,Odishabarta

Bhubaneswar: The Special Task Force (STF) of Crime Branch on Monday arrested two persons on the charges of possessing a leopard skin and other incriminating materials.

The accused persons namely Somanath Patra and Rajib Lochan Patra both are of village Salohi, Kadapada under Barkote police limit of Debagarh district, Odisha.

In a release top Senior STF,Officials said, on the basis of reliable information, STF team conducted a raid at Bonai Chhak, Barkote under Deogarh district about a deal of sale of Leopard Skin by wild life criminals on Monday, as a result of which two were apprehended. One Leopard Skin, one Motor Cycle and other incriminating materials were seized from their possession.

The accused persons could not produce any valid authority in support of possession of such elephant tusks, for which they were arrested and being forwarded to the Court of SDJM, Deogarh.

In this connection STF PS Case No.10 dated 22.03.2021 U/s. 379/411/120(B) IPC r/w. 51 of Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 was registered. The seized Leopard skin will be sent to Wild Life Institute of India, Dehradun for chemical examination. Investigation is on.