Bhubaneswar: The Special Task Force (STF) of the Odisha Crime Branch on Sunday seized two leopard hides in Odisha's Nayagarh district and arrested a man in this connection.

The accused was identified as Baidyaraj Mallik (40) of Baliberena in the district.

According to official sources, the STF team, acting on reliable information regarding dealing/ possession of wildlife products, conducted raid near Deer Park under Daspalla police limits.

While the accused was apprehended, the leopard skin and other incriminating materials were recovered from his possession.

He could not produce any authority in support of possession of the leopard hides.

A case under Sections 379, 411, 120 (B) of the IPC and Section 51 of Wildlife (Protection) Act was registered against the accused.

The skin will be sent to the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun for biological examination, sources said.