Bhubaneswar, January 4: The Special Task Force (STF) of the State Crime Branch on Tuesday recovered a live pangolin and arrested a wildlife smuggler following a raid near Khansumen Devi temple in Negipalli on Bargarh-Bheden Road under Bheden police station in Bargarh district.
The smuggler has been identified as Jagat Thela, a resident of Negipalli under Bheden PS in Bargarh district.
Acting on a tipoff, a team of STF with the help of Bargarh Forest Officials conducted a raid near Khansumen Devi temple. During search, a live pangolin and other incriminating articles were recovered from the possession of Jagat Thela. The accused could not produce any authority in support of possession of the live pangolin.
Since 2020, a special drive against the wildlife criminals/poachers has been launched. As a result, 22 leopard skins, 12 elephant tasks, seven deer skins, nine live pangolin and 15 kg pangolin scales were seized with the arrest of as many as 52 wildlife criminals.
