Leopard Skin Seized, One Arrested In Odisha’s Kandhamal

Phulbani: The STF of Odisha police has seized a leopard skin and arrested one person in this connection in Kandhamal district.

On the basis of reliable information about the leopard skin, a team of STF along with local police conducted raid on a place near Manipadar village under Phiringia police station in the district on Sunday night.

During the raid, they apprehended a wildlife criminal Belarsen Kanhar of Kurkanapali (Kelapada) under the same police station. During search, a leopard skin, Rs 5,500 in cash along with other incriminating materials were recovered from his possession.

As Kanhar could not produce any document in support of possession of the leopard skin, he was arrested and will be forwarded to the court.

The STF has registered a case in this connection under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The skin will be sent to Director, WII, Derhadun for biological examination. Further investigation is going on. Kanhar was earlier involved in a similar case in Kodala.