The Special Task Force (STF) of the Odisha Crime Branch on Saturday arrested a wildlife criminal following raid at Daberi village under Daringbadi police limits in Kandhamal district.
The accused has been identified as Bipin Nayak. One leopard skin was also recovered from his possession.
As per STF, the wildlife criminal was arrested with the assistance of local Daringbadi forest officials.
On April 6, a leopard skin was seized near old bus stand area at Karanjia in Mayurbhanj district following a joint raid conducted by officials of Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), Keonjhar and Karanjia forest range. A total of seven accused were arrested in connection with the case.
It is pertinent to mention here that the STF is carrying out a special drive against illegal wildlife products. So far, the agency has seized around 27 leopard skin, 15 elephant tusks, 12 live pangolins and 23.5 kg of pangolin scales.
These apart, the STF has also seized 2 leopard teeth, 29 leopard claws and 46 live wild parrots. Senior officials said that 64 wildlife criminals have been arrested in cases registered in different parts of the State.