Sambalpur: Acting on a tip-off, a Special Squad of the CID along with Crime Branch seized a leopard skin and detained two persons at Kisinda village in this district Wednesday night.
The detainees were Akei Sahu (70), a native of Kanchanpur and Bishal Saha (21) of Kumbharpara. The raid was held following inputs from National Wildlife Board. They were found carrying the leopard skin in an airbag for disposal, during the raid inside Kanchanpur forest, officials said.
An FIR has been lodged. Leopard, being a rare species, comes under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Violation of Section 51 of this act is punishable with imprisonment for a period of three years or a fine of Rs 25,000 or both. Those detained are being interrogated to ascertain the procurement sources and involvement of more people in the illegal trade, said an official.
Hunters and poachers often kill animals and sell their skin in national and international market where they are worth lakhs of rupees. In November last, the Kaptipada police arrested two persons trying to sell a 6.5feet-long leopard skin in Baripada district.
Crime Branch as the nodal wing of the state police has a specialised cell to deal with detection of illegal trade in wild life.
