Bhubaneswar: The Special Task Force (STF) of the Odisha Crime Branch (CB) arrested three persons negotiating a sale deal of a pangolin at Kalinga Studio Chhak here on Thursday.
According to CB sources, a team of STF conducted a raid following specific information about the scaly-skinned mammal being smuggled by some wildlife criminals in the city and nabbed the three.
The accused persons have been identified as Chitrasen Sahoo of Badamba in Cuttack, Khageswar Sahoo of Patrapda, and Bhagirathi Behera of Kansamari in Ganjam.
Other incriminating materials were also seized from their possession.
“The accused persons could not produce any valid authority in support of the possession of live Pangolin, for which they were arrested and will be forwarded to the court,” a press release said.
The mammal was later handed over to the DFO, Chandaka Wild Life Warden for safe custody, it added.
The accused have been booked under Sections of 379/411/413/120(B) IPC & Sec 51 of Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1973.
Notably, the STF has seized 15 leopard skin, nine elephant tusks, two deer skins, four live pangolins and 13 kg pangolin scales and arrested 32 persons followed a special drive against the wildlife criminals/poachers since a year.
