Bhanjanagar, Aug 31: Forest officials on Sunday busted an inter-state leopard skin smuggling racket and arrested a total of seven individuals, including a retired police ASI in this connection in Bhanjanagar area of Odisha’s Ganjam district.

Police have also recovered a leopard skin worth over Rs 1 lakh, five mobile phones, and three machetes from their possession and seized them.

Acting on a tip-off regarding a leopard skin being used for worship at a private residence, the forest officials conducted a raid in Gunduribadi village, located in the Jagannath Prasad Range under the Bhanjanagar Forest Division in Ganjam district.

A team of led by ACF Vivek Kumar Das, Ranger Pruthiraj Pradhan, and other forest officials raided the location. The operation was successfully carried out with the support of the Bhanjanagar police station.

Three individuals were arrested at the site of the worship, while four others were detained at a nearby lodge. Among the arrested, three are from Gajapati district, and one is a retired police officer. 

The forest department is continuing its investigation, and the accused are currently in custody.

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