Leopard skin trading racket busted in Bhubaneswar; 3 arrested

In a major crackdown on wildlife body part trafficking, the Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha Crime Branch arrested three traders yesterday for their alleged involvement in an illegal leopard skin deal, official sources said on Monday.

Also Read: Leopard skin seized in Odisha’s Nuapada, 1 held for wildlife body part smuggling

Rohit Mohapatra is believed to be the mastermind of the animal body part trading racket. He is among the three arrested. Two others are said to be the students of an educational institution, whose identities have not been ascertained yet.

Acting on a tip-off, the STF team raided Jayadev Vihar locality where the accused were finalising an Rs 30-lakh deal for a leopard skin.

According to the official sources, the leopard skin had been smuggled from Karnataka and was being traded in Bhubaneswar. The operation was meticulously planned, with the STF team posing as potential buyers before swooping in on the suspects.

The seized leopard skin has been sent for a forensic examination, and further investigation is underway to trace the wider trafficking network.

Police believe the racket may be part of a larger syndicate operating across state borders. The arrested individuals are currently being interrogated for possible links to poaching groups active in southern India.

The leopard skin is around 5 feet in length and nearly 3 feet in width.

It is said that Rohit had brought the leopard skin from Rourkela from a hunter of Karnataka. He was supposed to sell the animal body part to a rich man in the State Capital.

Following a thorough search, the STF personnel have seized the leopard skin and five mobile phones from the possession of the accused.

However, no comments were received from the STF in this regard.

Reported By: Jyoti Prakash Pati