Bhubaneswar: Forest officials of Odisha and Chhattisgarh Saturday conducted raids and seized 3.13 kg of pangolin scales in Nuapada district and arrested four persons. Those arrested were identified as Kumud Hans and Santosh Hans of Gobindpur village, and Narhari Gahir and Chaturbhuj Katama of Shukhamal village in Chhattisgarh.
Sources said a joint team from Khariar forest range in Odisha and Sitanandi wildlife sanctuary in Chhattisgarh conducted the raid, acting on a tip-off in Shukhamal village under Komna forest range.
Azeez Khan, district forest officer of Khariar forest division, said the raid was conducted with reliable information about the deal. “During interrogation, they admitted to have collected the pangolin scales. We also recreated the crime scene following the arrest of the culprits,” Khan added.