Bhubaneswar, May 17 A team of STF has arrested two wildlife criminals from Sonepur district and recovered two live Pangolins along with other incriminating materials from their possession.
STF sources here on Wednesday said on the basis of information, a team of STF conducted raid with the help of Forest Officials of Sonepur Forest Division on Tuesday in between Nachhi pura and Sonepur main road under Lachhi pura Police station in Sonepur district and apprehended two wildlife criminals.
STF identified the accused as Bedabyasa Dharua (41) and Nabadeep Dharua,( 29 ) of Jhankarpali village under Lachhipur polcie station of Sonepur district.
During search two Live Pangolin weighing 7 kg & 3 kg respectively along with other incriminating materials were recovered from their possession.
The accused persons have been detained and handed over to Sonepur Forest Official underForest Division for necessary legal action at their end. The Live Pangolins also handed over to DFO Sonepur for safe custody. Enquiry is going on.
The Indian pangolin (Maniscrassicaudata), also called thick-tailed pangolin, scaly anteater is asolitary, shy, slow-moving, nocturnal mammal. It is a schedule-I protected animal under
schedule -1 of Wild Life Protection act, 1972.