Sambalpur: Acting on reliable information, the Special Task Force (STF) of Crime Branch Friday busted a racket which was involved in smuggling of leopard skin, in Kuchinda area of Sambalpur district and arrested seven smugglers in this connection.
Acting on a tip-off about the illegal activity, the officials of the STF conducted a sudden raid at Sristi Lodge in Kuchinda around 6 PM and busted the racket.
The agency has arrested as many as seven persons for their alleged involvement in the racket. Four leopard hides have been seized from their possession, police sources said.
They have been identified as Sanjaya Bag of Jharsuguda, Sunil Kumar Kalo of Jharsuguda, Jasraj Patel of Jharsuguda, Jhasaketan Naik of Jharsuguda, Minaketan Munda of Sambalpur, Kailash Majhi of Jharsuguda and Kumud Bara of Sambalpur.
None of them could produce any valid license or authority in support of such possession of leopard skin, sources added. The miscreants were transporting the leopard hides to Sambalpur from Kuchinda.
PNN