TV
In a major crackdown on wildlife crime, forest officials busted a leopard skin smuggling racket in Jagannathprasad range of Ganjam district and arrested seven persons, including a retired police sub-inspector on Sunday.
Acting on a tip-off, a team of forest department officials carried out a surprise raid at Gunduribadi village, where the accused were allegedly preparing to sell a leopard skin after performing puja.
Subsequent investigation led to the arrest of four more accused from Bhanjanagar, all allegedly linked to the illegal trade. The seized hide, measuring about seven feet in length, is believed to have been obtained from a leopard aged between five and six years that was shot dead around 15 days ago.
According to sources, the accused had planned to sell the skin in the international black market for several lakhs of rupees.
Forest officials said the involvement of the retired assistant sub-inspector has raised serious concerns, and further investigation is underway to identify other links in the racket.
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“We have recovered a leopard skin which is 7-foot-long with a bullet injury marks. The leopard would be between five and six years of age. We believed the leopard died around 20 days ago. While three persons have been arrested from the puja spot, four other were arrested from Raj Palace,” said Himashu Sekhar Mohanty, DFO, north Ghumsar forest range.
