2 Leopard Hides Seized, 7 Arrested In Odisha’s Nuapada

Nuapada: Forest officials have seized two leopard hides and arrested 7 persons in this connection in Odisha’s Nuapada district.

Speaking to media persons on Thursday, Mohammad Saleha, ACF, Khariar, said a team of Forest officials from Khariar forest range conducted raids at two places following reliable information about a deal on sale of the hides.

During the raids on a hotel at Khariar and a house at Barapadar, the Forest officials seized the two leopard hides and arrested the seven persons. They also seized 6 mobile phones from their possesion.

Of the arrested persons, 6 are from Nuapada district while one is from Bangamunda of Balangir district, the ACF said.

Further investigation and questioning of the arrested persons were going on to ascertain involvement of others persons in illegal trade of wild animal skins, he added.