The Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha Police Crime Branch arrested a wildlife criminal following a raid at M Rampur in Kalahandi and recovered three leopard and three deer hides from his possession.
As per reports, a team of STF conducted the raid on Friday evening at Sriphali Chhak on M.Rampur-Narla road after getting a tip-off regarding dealing/possession of wildlife products by wildlife criminals.
Following the raid, a wildlife criminal identified as Khageswar Putel (56) from Pujiladu village under M Rampur police station was apprehended. Three leopard skins, three deer skins, and other incriminating materials were recovered from his possession during the search.
As the accused could not produce any authority in support of the possession of leopard and deer skins, he was arrested and will be forwarded to the Court of JMFC, M Rampur, informed STF in a release.
The STF has registered a case U/s 379/411/120(8) IPC r/w. Sec.51 of Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 in this connection. The skins will be sent to Dehradun for biological examination.
An investigation is currently going on to ascertain the source of the hides.