Bhubaneswar : The Special Task Force of Crime branch today arrested two persons on the charge of illegally possessing and transporting a live pangolin in between Gurujanga- Pitapalli near Khordha town.
STF sources said acting on a tip off a STF team Conducted a raid on the service road of NH-16 in between Gurujanga and Pitapalli and arrested two people with a live pangolin while they were trying to strike a deal to sell the wild animal.
STF identified the accused as Kailash Khosala, of Kalahandi district and Chaitanya Bhatra of Nabarangpur district.
The STF team also seized a car from their possession.
Both the accused were booked U/s. 379/411/120(3) IPC & Sec 51 of Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1973.
STF sources said that the live pangolin will be handed over to DFO, Khordha Wild Life Warden for safe custody.
The STF has seized as many as 16 leopard hides, 9 elephant tusks, two deer skin, five live pangolins, and 15 kg pangolin scales arrestED 35 wildlife criminals in various cases during the last one year.
Notably in the last one year, the Odisha STF has seized 16 leopard skin, nine elephant tusks, two deer skin and 15 kg of pangolin scales and arrested 33 people.
