The Forest Department seized a tiger skin and arrested eight people during a raid at Rivalkona under the Kalyansinghpur range in Rayagada district.
Officials said they acted on intelligence received two days earlier and laid a trap near Rivalkona Square. Five suspects from Rayagada district and three from Kalahandi district arrived to finalise the deal when forest personnel swooped in.
The team recovered one tiger skin, a motorcycle, and mobile phones from the accused. Those arrested include Jitendra Benia, E.J. Rao Sahu, and Munuga Majhi from Kalahandi, along with Bharat Nachika, Simadri Tadingi, Kailash Jani, Prashant Kadraka, and Dharm Patika from Rayagada.
Forest officials revealed that the tiger had been hunted two to four months ago in a forest near Bhawanipatna, Kalahandi. The accused allegedly brought the skin to Rayagada for sale. Kalahandi forest staff assisted in identifying the suspects.
Rayagada DFO Sachin Annasaheb Ohol led the joint operation with teams from Kalyansinghpur and Rayagada ranges. He confirmed that further investigation is underway to trace the wider network involved in the illegal trade.
