The Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha Crime Branch has arrested two wildlife criminals and recovered a leopard skin from their possession.

According to STF sources, acting on reliable information, a team from the STF, along with Kalahandi police, conducted a raid on Thursday morning near Narla Railway Station in the Kalahandi district.

During the raid, two wildlife criminals, identified as Chakra Benal and Purna Chandra Bag, were apprehended. The STF team recovered one leopard skin along with other incriminating materials from their possession.

The accused were presented before the Court of Judicial Magistrate of First Class, M Rampur, as they failed to produce any authority supporting their possession of the leopard skin.

A case under Section 379/411/120(B) IPC r/w. Sec.51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 was registered.

STF sources stated that the seized leopard skin would be sent to the Director of Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, for biological examination.