Phulbani: The Forest Department has arrested six smugglers after seizing wildlife contraband including a leopard skin and a country-made firearm.
On the instructions of DFO Prashant Patel, forest personnel apprehended two persons while they were smuggling a tiger hide between Behera village and Linepada forest road under the Tikabali Forest Department.
After eliciting information from the detainees, the forest personnel apprehended four more accused persons involved in the smuggling of wildlife contraband.
The arrested persons identified as Dhaneshwar Naik of Khajuripada Danju village, Sarat Malik of Gumurikhol, Gaurang Malik of Khoumunda village, Sadanand Kanhar, Santosh Malik of Baliguda, Bibhatsha Malik of Danju village have been forwarded to the court, informed DFO Patel.
The forest department has seized leopard skins, six barking deer skins and horns, two monitor lizard skins and a country-made firearm.
