Sonepur: A team of STF has arrested two wildlife criminals from the Subarnapur district and recovered two alive Pangolins along with other incriminating materials from their possession.
A source in STF Wednesday said on the basis of the information, a team of STF conducted a raid with the help of forest officials of Subarnapur Forest Division Tuesday in between Nachhipura and Sonepur main road under Lachhipura Police limits in Subarnapur district and apprehended two wildlife criminals.
STF identified the accused to be Bedabyasa Dharua (41) and Nabadeep Dharua ( 29 ) of Jhankarpali village under Lachhipur police limits of Subarnapur district.
During the search two live Pangolin weighing 7 kg & 3 kg, along with other incriminating materials were recovered from their possession.
The accused have been detained and handed over to Subarnapur Forest Official under Forest Division for necessary legal action at their end. The live Pangolins were also handed over to DFO Sonepur for safe custody. Enquiry is still underway.
It can be mentioned here that, the Indian pangolin (Maniscrassicaudata), also called the thick-tailed pangolin, scaly anteater is a solitary, shy, slow-moving, nocturnal mammal. It is a schedule-I protected animal under schedule -1 of the Wild Life Protection act, 1972.
UNI