The Special Task Force of Crime Branch on Sunday rescued a live pangolin from the Boriguuma bypass road under the Sadar police station in Koraput and arrested two persons on the charge of smuggling wildlife.
The arrested were identified as Madhab Paraja and Jagabandhu Paraja, natives of Bindhaniguda under the Bindhaniguda police station in the district,
During search, the pangolin and incriminating articles were recovered from their possession. The accused were handed over to forest officials for legal action at their end.
The pangolin was handed over to the Koraput DFO for safe custody.
Since 2020, in the drive against illegal wildlife trade, the STF has seized 25 leopard skins, 13 elephant tasks, seven deerskins, 11 live pangolins and 16 kg of pangolin scales and arrested 57 wildlife criminals, the STF said.
