On Sunday, authorities apprehended seven individuals, including a retired police officer, in connection with the illegal trade of leopard skins in Ganjam district, Odisha. The police confirmed the arrests.
According to law enforcement, the suspects were taken into custody from a residence and a private lodge located in the Bhajanagar North Forest Division area. Himanshu Shekhar Mohanty, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Ghumusar North Division, reported that the team recovered a seven-foot-long leopard skin, sharp weapons, a motorcycle, and mobile phones among other items from the accused.
The DFO noted, "The leopard skin bore signs of gunshot wounds, leading us to suspect that the animal was killed approximately a month ago. An investigation is ongoing in this case."
Additionally, the leopard skin has been sent to the Animal Testing Laboratory at Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) in Bhubaneswar for DNA matching.
You may also like
Egypt: Four months after death, Ibrahim Shika's family alleges organ theft
'I spent £175 on a square watermelon and was gobsmacked when I looked inside it'
Olivia Attwood looks downcast during hostile chat with Pete Wicks after cosy Ibiza snaps
BREAKING: Former Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier rival Joe Bugner dies aged 75
All you need to know as emergency alert to hit phones this week
