Busting a wildlife trafficking racket, Dhenkanal forest officials rescued a pangolin and arrested two persons, including a 21-year-old youth, from the Shankarpur area in Cuttack city on Monday evening.
However, two other accused managed to flee the spot.Following allegations of rampant illegal trading of pangolins from Dhenkanal district’s Kapilash Reserve Forest to other districts, an 18-member team had been formed under the supervision of the Dhenkanal Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) to bust the racket. Acting on a tipoff, the officials conducted a raid at Shankarpur of Cuttack and nabbed two accused, Ghanashyama Behera (21), a resident of Gadahaladia village and Jitendra Pradhan (45) of Badatola village under Jatni police limits in Khordha district. During interrogation, the two accused confessed that they had made a deal of Rs 40 lakh to sell the pangolin.