Bhubaneswar: Acting on a tip-off an STF team in a joint operation with Boudh Forest officials conducted a sudden raid and seized two leopard skins and other incriminating materials from a hideout near Kapasira village under Manmunda forest range in Boudh district Monday.
A person identified as Jibardhan Bhoi, son of Ganaram Bhoi of Dundra village under Kantamal police limits was arrested for illegal possession of leopard skin. Jibardhan was later handed over to the Forest department officials for prosecution.
A special drive against the poachers and smugglers of body parts of wild animals has been launched in the district. In the last one year, the STF has seized 18 leopard skins, nine elephant tusks, two deer skins, five live pangolins and 15 kg of pangolin scales. At the same time, it has arrested 36 criminals in this regard.
It has been the focus area of the STF, the specialised wing of Odisha Police, to curb organised crimes including wild life crimes in Odisha.
PNN
