Bhubaneswar
In a successful operation, the Special Task Force (STF) of the Odisha Crime Branch arrested a 40-year-old man, Baidyaraj Mallik, in Dasapalla area of Nayagarh district. The raid resulted in the seizure of two leopard skins and other incriminating materials from Mallik’s possession. Acting on a tip-off, the STF conducted a raid near a deer park at Kuanria Dam under Dasapalla police limits. Mallik, a resident of Baliberena village, was apprehended while waiting to hand over the leopard skins to a customer. During the search, the STF recovered two leopard skins, and Mallik failed to produce any authority supporting his possession of the skins. He was subsequently arrested and will be presented before the Court of JMFC, Dasapalla. A case has been registered against Mallik under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The seized leopard skins will undergo a biological examination at the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun. This successful operation by the Odisha STF highlights ongoing efforts to combat wildlife crime and protect endangered species. The arrest underscores the importance of stringent measures to enforce wildlife protection laws and deter individuals engaged in illegal activities related to wildlife trafficking.
