Pangolin rescued, 2 arrested from Cuttack

Dhenkanal/ Cuttack: Busting a wildlife trafficking racket, Dhenkanal forest officials rescued a pangolin and  and arrested two persons, including a 21-year-old youth from Shankarpur area in Cuttack last evening.

However, two other accused managed to flee the spot.

Following allegations of rampant illegal trade of pangolin  from Kapilash Reserve Forest to other districts, an  18-member team was formed under the supervision of Dhenkanal Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) to bust the racket.

Acting on a tip-off, forest officials conducted a raid in Shankarpur area of Cuttack last evening and and nabbed two accused- Ghanashyama Behera (21), a resident of Gadahaladia village and Jitendra Pradhan (45) of Badatola village under Jatni police limits in Khordha district.

During interrogation, the  two confessed that they had made a deal of Rs 40 lakh to sell the pangolin. Later, it was revealed that they have kept various wild animals, including pangolin for sale.

Dhenkanal DFO Prakash Chand Gogineni said help of Odisha Crime Branch and Khordha DFO will be sought to trace the network of the racket and nab other members of the racket.

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