Bhubaneswar: Odisha Police’s Special Task Force (STF) formed to curb the organized crime in the State, has seized 15 leopard skins and arrested 28 wildlife criminals in the past one year.
According to official sources, the STF has launched a special drive against the wildlife criminals/poachers and in the past one year, it has seized 15 leopard skins, 9 elephant tusks, two deer skins, three live pangolin and 10 kg pangolin scales. The special wing of the Crime Branch has also arrested 28 wildlife criminals in one year.
On the basis of reliable information, STF team on Wednesday conducted a raid near village Kapasira under Manmunda PS under Boudh district and cracked down a wildlife poaching racket. The STF team arrested one poacher Hara Rana, said Odisha Crime Branch (STF) SP Tejeswar Patel.
During the search, one leopard skin, one country made SBML gun, 12 Big size Sisa ball ammunitions, 17 Sisa, 25 small empty cases, two plastic containers containing Black gun powder and other incriminating materials were seized from his possession, Mr.Patel said.
In this connection STF PS Case No.25 dated 21.07.2021 U/s. 379/411/120(B) IPC r/w.Sec.25 Arms Act r/w. 51 of Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 was registered, he further informed.
The seized leopard skin will be sent to WildLife Institute of India, Deharadun for chemical examination. Investigation is on, he added.STF is the specialized wing of Odisha Police to curb the organized crime in the State. Wildlife crimes remain one of the focus areas of STF and STF will continue its drive against wildlife crime and criminals.