Bhubaneswar, Sep 8: The STF of Odisha police has arrested two wildlife criminals and recovered a live pangolin from their possession.
A team of the STF conducted a raid with the help of forest officials from Jeypore Forest Division and Koraput district police on Thursday near Khadupadar Chhaka on the Jeypore-Baipariguda Bypass in Koraput district and apprehended the two wildlife criminals.
The two wildlife criminals identified as Durya Matpadia and Kartik Harizan were nabbed during the raid, and one live pangolin along with other incriminating materials were recovered from their possession.
STF sources said the accused persons could not produce any authority in support of their possession of such a live pangolin, for which they were arrested.
In this connection, a case under U/s 379/411/120(B) IPC r/w Sec. 51 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, has been registered, and the accused persons will be forwarded to the Court of SDJM, Jeypore.
The live pangolin was handed over to the DFO in Jeypore for safe custody.
The Indian pangolin (Maniscrassicaudata), also called thick-tailed pangolin, scaly anteater, and “bajrakapta” in Odia, is a solitary, shy, slow-moving, nocturnal mammal.
It is a Schedule I protected animal under the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972. Schedule I provides absolute protection; offences under this are prescribed for the highest penalties.
