STF, ARREST THREE POACHERS; SEIZE LEOPARD SKIN & NAILS
Bureau,Odishabarta
BHUBANESWAR:The Special Task Force of Odisha Crime Branch on Wednesday arrested three persons from Bargarh and seized a leopard skin, 11 leopard nails and four teeth from their possession.
The accused were identified as Satyaban Sahu, Sauki Thetua and Maita Bhue, all from Khajuria village under Bhatli police limits of Bargarh district.
Acting on a tip-off, the STF conducted raids at Bhatli chowk in Bargarh town and nabbed the three accused.
During the search, the STF recovered a leopard skin and some nails of the wild animals from the possession of the accused trio. Subsequently, they were arrested under Section 379 and 411 of IPC and 51 of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
The seized leopard skin will be sent to the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun for chemical examination and further investigation into the matter is underway.
A Top rank STF officer said the accused were arrested while they were trying to sell the leopard skin and nails. The market value of the skin, which has been seized, will be around Rs 5 lakh while the value of the nails will be around Rs 2 lakhs.
