Bhubaneswar, June 11: Acting on a tipoff, Special Task Force (STF) sleuths along forest officials of Baripada Forest Division conducted a raid near Balichua village under Sarat police station limits in Mayurbhanj district about a deal of sale of Pangolin scales by wildlife criminals and arrested one person and seized 4 kg 820 gms pangolin scales from his possession.
The accused identified as Suren Purty is a resident of Balichua village under Sarat PS.
“During search 4 kg 820 gms pangolin scales and other incriminating materials were seized from his possession. The accused person could not produce any valid authority in support of possession of pangolin scales, for which he was detained and handed over to forest officials for necessary legal action at their end. Investigation is on,” said a STF release.
Since last year, STF has seized as many as 14 leopard skins, nine elephant tusks, two deer skins, three live pangolins and 10 kg pangolin scales and arrested 27 wildlife criminals.
The STF is the specialised wing of Odisha Police to curb the organised crime in the State and wildlife crimes remain the one of the focus areas of the agency.
