Bhubaneswar: The Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha police arrested a wildlife criminal and seized a leopard skin from his possession at Dasingbadi Ghati under Daringbadi police limits in Kandhamal district on Monday.
Acting on a tip-off, a team of STF conducted raids with the help of Forest department officials as well as Kandhamal Police and arrested Gheneswar Pradhan (35) of Gohibadi village in the same locality.
The STF team also seized a country-made pistol and other incriminating materials from his possession.
The accused person could not produce any authority in support of the possession of such leopard skin and pistol, for which he has been arrested and will be forwarded to the Court of JMFC, Daringbadi, the STF said in a release.
The STF registered a case under sections 379/411 IPC r/w. Sec. 25 Arms Act, 1959 & Sec.51 of Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
The skin will be sent to Director WII, Derhadun for biological examination. Similarly, the seized country-made pistol will be sent to SFSL, Rasulgarh for ballistic examination, the STF added.
