Berhampur: A rare species pangolin was rescued by a joint team of police and forest personnel here in Rayagada district Sunday and five persons were arrested in this connection, the police said.
Acting on a tip-off, the joint team intercepted a car near a bus stand in Gunupur and rescued the pangolin which was being illegally transported, IIC of Gunupur police station, Rabindra Kumar Patra, said.
Preliminary inquiry revealed that the five persons were transporting the pangolin to Bhubaneswar from Rayagada district, he said.
After a thorough investigation, the police will be able to establish whether the arrested persons, including two women, were operating independently or have links with any bigger wildlife smuggling racket, the IIC said.
Earlier this month, a major wildlife racket was busted in Malkangiri district where two pangolins were rescued and seven people were arrested. The Crime Branch had arrested four persons and rescued two pangolins from their possession at Ambadiha under Udala police limits in Mayurbhanj district December 8.
PNN
