Seven operatives of an inter-state wildlife racket have been arrested with the seizure of leopard hides and pangolin scales in huge quantities from them in eastern India’s Odisha.

The incident took place in Paralakhemundi Forest Division at Gajapati District on April 6.

Visuals showed the police had lined up confiscated items on the ground, forming a somber display of the illegal wildlife trade. Five leopard skins, one fishing cat skin, and one leopard cat skin lay in a row, while nearby, large quantities of pangolin scales were arranged meticulously, painting a grim picture of wildlife exploitation.

According to reports, the forest department has seized five leopard skins, one fishing cat skin and one leopard cat skin along with a huge quantity of pangolin scales and arrested seven accused persons involved in the inter-state wildlife racket.

PCCF Nanda also praised the forest dept staff for working 24×7 to bust the gang and said that the process to nab the kingpin & bust the inter-state gang is underway.

“The accused persons have been forwarded to court in Gajapati District. Further investigation to establish forward and backward linkages is on. The kingpin & all the poachers involved will be soon apprehended, the PCCF said.

Speaking to Newslions, DFO S.Anand said that they were working on this racket operation for 40 days.