Leopard Hide Smuggling Racket Unearthed in Jajpur, One Arrested

Jajpur: The forest department officials busted a leopard skin smuggling racket in Jajpur district and seized a hide of the big cat near Ambadahi under Tamaka Forest Range.

A person involved in this leopard skin smuggling racket was arrested. But two others managed to escape.

Acting on an intelligence tip-off, a team of forest officials led by the Cuttack Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) raided near Ambadahi. The information was that the wild animal body part smugglers were holding a meeting at the spot to sell a leopard skin. During the raid the forest officials arrested one person and seized a leopard skin from his possession. But two others managed to dodge the forest officials to escape.

The Forest officials have launched an investigation to arrest other persons involved in the racket. It is being ascertained whether the seized leopard skin was sourced from Odisha or smuggled from some other state. For it, the arrested man is being interrogated.