Bhubaneswar: The Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha Crime Branch has seized a leopard skin and nabbed a wildlife criminal in this connection in Rayagada district.
The wildlife criminal has been identified as Jayanta Bibar of Bandipanka village under Chandrapur police limits in Rayagada.
Acting on a tip-off about dealing/possession of wildlife products, a team of STF conducted a raid with the help of Gunupur Forest Officials on NH 326 near Bangi junction, Ramanguda under Gunupur Police limits and arrested Jayanta from the spot.
The STF seized one Leopard skin and other incriminating materials from his possession.
He could not produce any authority in support of the possession of such leopard skin, for which he was detained and handed over to Gunupur Forest Officials under the Rayagada Forest Division.
Since 2020, STF has seized as many as 29 Nos. of leopard skin, 24 Nos. of elephant task, 7 Nos. of deer skins, 14 Nos. of live pangolin, 30 kg 400 gm of pangolin scales, 2 Nos. of leopard teeth, 29 Nos. of leopard claws, 46 Nos. of live wild parrot with the arrest of 70 Nos. of wildlife criminals.