Bhubaneswar: The Special Task Force (STF) of the Odisha Crime Branch seized two leopard skins during a raid in Rayagada district and arrested two wildlife criminals, officials said on Wednesday.
The accused have been identified as Bikram Majhi and Raja Majhi of Chandrapur area in Rayagada.
Acting on an Intelligence input, a team of STF conducted a raid at Tampara Bindhuni Chhak under Chandili police limits in the district and apprehended the two criminals who were waiting for a customer to hand over the leopard skins.
During the search, two leopard skins and other incriminating materials were recovered from their possession. The accused persons could not produce any documents that would give them the authority to be in possession of the leopard skins. They have been arrested and the case will be forwarded to the Court of SDJM, Rayagada shortly, STF said.
A case has been registered under various Sections of the IPC and Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 in this regard. The seized skins will be sent to Director Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun for examination, it added.
