A joint operation by the forest department and the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) team resulted in the arrest of seven individuals, including a government school teacher, for their alleged involvement in a leopard skin trafficking racket.
The operation spanned several areas across the Kaptipada, Badasahi, Dukurah, and Khunta ranges. Authorities seized three leopard skins from the accused during the raid.
Investigation revealed that the leopard skins were kept at the homes of the accused for worship, driven by the belief that possessing these skins would bring them wealth. The skins were reportedly sourced from Chhattisgarh and are believed to be old.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Raisen Tapeyar (Chandanachaturi village), Manaranjan Tipiria and Guruprasad Patra (Paunsia village), Sermasiri Soren (Kuanrapal village), Champai Murmu (Kutling village), Sunaram Hembram (Balasore district), and Amar Kumar Singh (Tenda village, Nilagiri police station).
Similipal Deputy Director Samrat Gouda stated that the investigation is ongoing, and additional arrests are expected soon.
