STF Seizes Leopard Skins from Man Arrested in Nayagarh

Bhubaneswar: Two leopard hides were seized from a person arrested by the Special Task Force (STF) of the Odisha Crime Branch on Sunday in Odisha’s Nayagarh district.

The arrested accused was identified as Baidyaraj Mallik (40) of Baliberena village in Nayagarh district.

The STF team nabbed the accused during a raid near Deer Park under Daspalla police station limits. It is alleged that the accused was trying to sell off the leopard skins when he was apprehended.

Apart from the two leopard skins, some other incriminating materials were also recovered from the possession of the arrested man. He was booked under Sections 379, 411, 120 (B) of the IPC and Section 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act.

The seized leopard skins will be sent to the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun for examination.