Koraput: The Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha police on Sunday rescued a live pangolin and arrested two wildlife smuggler in the Koraput.
The accused arrested has been identified as Madhab Paraja and Jagabandhu Paraja, a aresident of Bindhaniguda village under Bishingpur police limits in Koraput district.
On the basis of reliable information, a team of STF conducted a raid with the help of forest officials on the road in between Koraput-Boriguma by pass road under Koraput Sadar Police Station.
During the search, one live pangolin and other incriminating articles were recovered from their possession and arrested two persons in this connection.
As the accused persons could not produce any authority in support of possession of the live pangolin, for which they have been detained and handed over to Koraput forest officials for legal action at their end.
The Pangolin was also handed over to DFO, Koraput for safe custody and they have started an investigation.
Since 2020, Special drive against the wildlife criminals/ poachers have been launched. STF has seized as many as 25 numbers of leopard skins, 13 numbers of elephant tasks, 7 numbers of deer skins, 11 numbers of live pangolin and more than 16 kg pangolin scales with arrest of as many as 57 numbers of wildlife criminals.