Bhabanipatana: The Kalahandi South Forest Division has busted an alleged wildlife poaching and trafficking racket in Saisurani range under Thuamul Rampur forest area, arresting seven people and seizing two leopard skins, other wildlife remains, weapons and a live wild boar.
The accused, identified as Kumud Rout of Dabriguda, Tarang Patra of Panbhata and Santosh Kumar Jala, Arjun Majhi, Nilakantha Sahu, Ananda Majhi and Leli Majhi of Tala Amapadar, all from the district’s Karlapat police station area, were arrested Friday and produced before a court.
Forest officials said the suspects were allegedly involved in hunting wild animals and planning to smuggle their body parts. The department intercepted them before the planned trafficking operation could be carried out.
The seized items included two leopard hides, claws, bones, teeth, whiskers and pieces of animal skin. A live wild boar weighing about 10 kg and a monitor lizard’s head were also recovered. The seizure further included a country-made muzzle-loading gun, 7 grams of gunpowder, 206 pellets, a gun-cleaning rod, a bow and two arrows.
The Forest Department has registered a case under the Wildlife (Protection) Act and produced the arrested persons before a court. Officials said some other suspected members of the racket were absconding and efforts were underway to trace them.