Nuapada: A team of the special task force (STF) along with the officials of Khariar Forest division arrested a wildlife criminal Tuesday in Nuapada district and recovered a pangolin from his possession.
STF sources said that acting on a tip-off, the team conducted a raid at Bankapur Chowk under Khariar police station and apprehended the accused Ranjan Kumar Sahu of Kanatamal village in Kalahandi district.
While searching his hideout, police found the pangolin. They also seized a four-wheeler and other incriminating materials were recovered from Sahu’s possession.
A case U/s 379/411/120(B) IPC R/W Section 51 of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 has been registered and Sahu was forwarded to the Court of SDJM, Khariar.
The pangolin has been handed over to DFO, Khariar for safe custody, police said. They added that an investigation is underway to find out the involvement of others with Sahu.
Incidentally, pangolin is a slow-moving, nocturnal mammal. It is a Schedule-I protected animal under Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
Agencies
