7 pangolin smugglers held in S’pur

Forest officials busted a racket of pangolin (Bajrakapta) smugglers by arresting seven persons, including former Sarapanch Jadumani Patra (40) of Goudpada GP, at Redhakhole on Wednesday.

The arrested were identified as Sushil Sethi, Laxman Sethi, Sriram Sabar, Sira Sabar, Khiju Sabar and Nepal Sahu, are residents of Kisinda and Naktideul police station area, informed Redhakhole DFO Sangram Keshari Behera.

The officials also seized 2.6 kg of pangolin scale from their possession.

Mafias from out of the State and that of locals are involved in this profitable business. Even the businessmen and the poachers were talking in code words and sending information in similar way to evade police and forest department’s eyes, said the DFO.