Nuapada: Forest officials have seized another leopard hide and arrested five persons in this connection in Odisha’s Nuapada district.
Khariar DFO Ajiz Khan told the media that they had received reliable information that a deal was going on to sell the leopard skin in Haripur village under San Maheswar section of Khariar forest division.
A team of Forest officials conducted a raid on the house of a wildlife poacher in the village. During the raid, the officials seized the leopard hide and arrested 5 persons from the spot. Two other persons managed to escape.
The Forest officials also seized two motorcycles and four mobile phones during the raid. The arrested persons would be forwarded to court after questioning, the DFO said.
It may be noted that Forest officials had seized two leopard hides and arrested 7 persons during raids at two places under Khariar forest range on January 11. The raids were conducted on a hotel at Khariar and a house at Barapadar.