STF rescues pangolin in Koraput, 2 held
Bureau,Odishabarta
Bhubaneswar: The Special Task Force of Odisha Police on Sunday rescued a pangolin and arrested two persons on charge of smuggling wildlife from the State forests, an officer said. Based on reliable information, the STF team, with the help of Koraput forest officials, raided a house in Koraput district and apprehended two persons on Sunday.
The accused are identified as Madhab Paraja and Jagabandhu Paraja of Koraput district. Later, the police handed over the pangolin to Koraput district forest officials for safe custody. The accused have been sent to Koraput forest officials for initiating legal action. This is for the second time such a seizure was made by Odisha Police. On January 18, the police had seized a live pangolin from Bolangir district.
Since 2020, in special drive against wildlife criminals/poachers, the STF has seized 25 leopard skin, 13 elephant tusks, 7 deer skins, 11 live pangolins and more than 16 kg pangolin scales and arrested 57 wildlife criminals, STF said.
