Deogarh, Jan 17: Police today seized a leopard skin from Ambakata forest under Barkote police limits and arrested five persons in this connection.

The accused have been identified as Dhiren Nayak, Niranjan Nayak, Sukuru Kulu, Mustaquddin and Pati Kishan.

Police said that they received specific input regarding deal of leopard hide and accordingly reached the spot as decoy. Later they nabbed the accused and seized the skin.

“Further investigation is continuing to go to the root of the racket. We are also trying to ascertain whether the accused poached any leopard or they procured the skin from some other place. We are also verifying the antecedents of the accused,” said a police official.