Special squad seizes leopard hide, teeth, nails in Odisha’s Kandhamal; 11 arrested

Suranjan Mishra Published On : Jul 5, 2023 at 10:55 PM

Raikia: In a major crackdown and following a raid, the Special Squad of Forest department today busted an animal body part trading gang and later seized a leopard hide, teeth and nails from Raikia locality in Odisha’s Kandhamal district. At least 11 poachers were arrested in this connection.

The arrested are Bhisma Bisoyi (60), Pari Bisoyi (50), Sunil Bisoyi (30), Utsab Dalabehera (30), Pradeep Dalabehera (40), Babu Bhuyan (43) and Bhagaban Dalabehera (35), all from Badagad, Garib Nayak (35) from Sorada, Simanchal Nayak and Chandraketu Nayak (35), both from Ranaba and Bhika Nayak (50) from K Karadaganda of Kandhamal district.

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The squad was tipped off by a reliable source that the group of poachers were about to sell the seized body parts. Swinging into action, the forest personnel conducted a raid leading to the arrests.

A case (No-22/2023) has been registered at the local police station and a probe initiated. The 11 arrested were forwarded to court later in the day.

Notably, Raikia DFO Prashant Patel, ranger Biranchi Narayan Panda, assistant conservator of forests (ACF) Malaya Ranjan Kalo and several subordinate staff took part in the raid.