Three arrested with leopard, deer skin in Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh police have arrested three poachers and recovered leopard and deer skins worth Rs 30 lakh in the international market.

Mahasumund: Three poachers have been arrested with leopard and deer skins worth Rs 30 lakh in Chhattisgarh's Mahasamund district on Saturday.

Acting on a tip-off, a police team arrested Sheikh Shahabuddin (27), Baliram Bariha (52) and Johan Bariha (50) from Barnaidadar Jhagrandih village on Friday evening. All the three accused are residents of Baloda Bazar.

"We have arrested three people who were looking for customers to sell leopards and deer skins. We have seized leopard and deer skin. We are still investigating the matter and more arrests can be done," Prafull Kumar Thakur, Superintendent of Police.

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Police said the accused confessed that they had extracted the skin of the leopard and deer after killing them in Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary.

A bow and arrows used for poaching, cash and two mobile phones were also seized from them, he said.

The value of the leopard skin and deer skin could be Rs 25 lakh and Rs 5 lakh, respectively, in the international market, he said, adding that a case under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, has been registered and further probe is underway.