The State Crime Branch, Special Task Force (STF) has taken up a pangolin (Bajrakapta) recovery case from Sundargarh forest officials and started an investigation on Monday.
Significantly, Sundargarh forest officials had arrested two persons of Chhatisgarh on August 24, allegedly for illegally transporting and trading a pangolin. Another seven persons, reportedly present on the spot with the pangolin, had fled. The Sundargarh forest officials had requested CB STF to take up the case.
Meanwhile, the recovered pangolin, which has been still under possession of the Sundargarh forest division, will be handed over to Nandankanan authorities on Tuesday.
They accused Herod Khalko(30) and Radheshyam Yadav(38), both native of Kansabel, Chhatisgarh along with seven others were taking the pangolin inside a four wheeler, when the forest officials had conducted a raid and arrested the duo. While searching inside vehicle,
forest officials found a gunny bag which had been tied with a rope. They spotted the pangolin inside the bag.
The rescued pangolin weighs about 10. 750 kg.
Herod and Radheshyam have been forwarded to the SDJM Court, Sundargarh and later, to jail.