Chhattisgarh: Police Arrest Seven People Including 2 Cops For Smuggling Leopard Hides in Dantewada
Two of the people arrested for smuggling are cops, said reports. The police recovered the hides from Dantewada district, Geedah, in Chhattisgarh. Dantewada is a naxal-violence hit area and large tracts of jungle still go unmanned in the remote corners of the district.
Raipur, January 4: The Chhattisgarh Police on Friday recovered four leopard hides and arrested seven people in connection to the case. Two of the people arrested for smuggling are cops, said reports. The police recovered the hides from Dantewada district near Geedam forest reserve area in Chhattisgarh. Dantewada is a naxal-violence hit area and large tracts of jungle still go unmanned in the remote corners of the district. Leopard Mortality Rate Highest in Last 4 Years; Says Wildlife Protection Society of India.
The leopard hides were found when the smugglers where planning to smuggle the skin of the animal, said the police.
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Leopard hides are in great demand in international markets because of the merchandise items associated with it. Though trading it is illegal, smugglers are always on the lookout for the big cats as its skin fetches hefty sum. Similar incidents have been reported in the past from Geedam forest reserve area, from where the police arrested the accused. MP: STF Arrests Man for Smuggling Leopard Skin in International Market.
Acting on a tip-off, the police and forest department staff arrested Lalu (46), Arjun Barsa (41), Ladruram (27), Ramnath (25), Shankar Poyam (32), Masram Kadiyami (28) and Tamo Deepchandra from Karli village on Gidam-Bijapur road, an official said.
"Kadiyami and Poyam are police jawans posted in Bijapur district. We received a tip-off that some suspects were heading towards Bijapur from Gidam with leopard hides on motorcycles. We intercepted them near Karli and four leopard hides were seized," he said. Four motorcycles, mobile phones and knives were also seized. A case has been registered under Wildlife Protection Act, reported PTI.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 04, 2020 02:54 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).