Bhubaneswar: The Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha Crime Branch arrested a man and seized two leopard hides from his possession during a raid near Deer Park under Daspalla police limits in Odisha’s Nayagarh district on Sunday.
The accused has been identified as Baidyaraj Mallik (40) of Baliberena in the district.
“During search, 2 leopard skin and other incriminating materials were recovered from his possession. The accused could not produce any authority in support of possession of the leopard hides,” an STF release said.
While a case under Sections 379, 411, 120 (B) of the IPC and Section 51 of Wildlife (Protection) Act has been registered against him, the skin will be sent to the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun for biological examination, it added.
