20 deer horns seized, two held

Jajpur: Twenty deer horns, worth over Rs 3 lakh in the international market, were seized from two youths while they were trying to sell it at Panikoili in Jajpur district on Tuesday, police said.

Acting on a tip off, a police team swung into action and arrested the duo under Wildlife Protection Act while attempting to sell them off at Jajpur Road, they said.

The horns, a country made revolver and a vehicle were seized from the two accused persons identified as Bhabagrahi Brahma and Yasobanta Brahma of Kalakala village in the district.

"The two youths have come to Jajpur Road in a Bolero vehicle with some deer horns to sell them off through a local broker here," Superintendent of Police, Jajpur, Deepak Kumar said.

"Five gunny bags containing 20 horns and a country made revolver were seized from the vehicle. We informed the Forest department about the incident and handed them over for further action," the SP said.

The duo claimed that the horns belonged to another man of the area and were trying to sell them off through a broker in Jajpur Road, the gateway to the industrial town of Kalinga Nagar, said the forest department officials.

"We are investigating into the matter to ascertain involvement of others, if any," said Sudarshan Behera, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Cuttack.