Poachers' gang busted, ivory and leopard skin seized

Bhubaneswar, Feb 24 (UNI) Orissa crime branch and forest officials in a joint operation today busted a gang of poachers and seized 14.3 kg ivory and a leopard skin from their possession.

The team, led by a senior forest official, had been keeping close eye on the activities of the gang in forests of the state for the last five years.

Posing as a trader from Kolkata Satkosia DFO Susant Nanda contacted the gang members and invited them to a safe place for trading ivory and leopard skin for a good price.

Crime Branch Inspector General of Police Bijaya Sharma told newsmen here the two tusks weighing 14.3 kg and a 6 feet-long leopard skin were seized from the possession of the gang.

Mr Sharma said the crime branch extended all its assistance to the forest department to nab the poachers following a series of reports of elephant poaching in the state for ivory smuggling in the recent past.

Ivory seized during the joint operation could fetch Rs 30,000 and Rs 50,000 per kg in international market while the leopard skin was priced at Rs 25,000.

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