Four people arrested for animal skin trading

Hubli, Dec 13 (UNI) The State Forest Vigilance squad here today seized the skins of leopards, tigers and otters, worth Rs 28 lakh, and arrested four people in this connection.

According to police, the skins were seized during a raid on two houses in Hubli and Halyal.

Mr Narayana Gowda, DIG(CID) Forest Cell, told newspersons here this evening that the skin trading was going on for the last two years. The poachers used to sell these skins to customers in various states in the country.

He said the forest squad had recovered 43 otter skins, nine leopard skins and a tiger skin from these two houses.

Mr Gowda said the arrested Prabhakar confessed during investigation that his sister-in-law Gajakash, nephew Arun and Udaya Kadam were selling the skins in Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

He said all the four accused were arrested and further investigations were on.

UNI