Bhubaneswar: The Special Task Force (STF) of the Odisha Police arrested two individuals in Bhubaneswar while they were attempting to sell leopard skin for ₹2.5 lakh.

STF SP Rabi Satpathy informed the arrests were made during a raid conducted based on a specific intelligence input. The raid took place on Info Valley Road in Bhubaneswar, where the accused—Rajesh Nayak and Gayadhara Nayak alias Gangadhara, both residents of Banibiri in Nayagarh district were caught red-handed while making the deal.

The duo had reportedly been active in the forests of Boudh, Nayagarh, and Phulbani. According to Satpathy, their operation involved sourcing wildlife products, including leopard skin and other animal parts, for supply to West Bengal.

The suspected kingpin of the racket has been identified as one Satya, and further investigation is underway to trace his involvement.

Forest officials examined the recovered leopard skin and estimated the animal was around 10 years old and had been killed approximately a month ago.

A case has been registered, and the STF plans to visit the site where the leopard was allegedly poached to ascertain what happened to the remaining body parts.