In a joint action, Nagpur Division of Forest Department and Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) arrested three persons and seized leopard skin from their possession on Sunday. WCCB provided a tip-off to Nagpur Forest Division that leopard skin would change hands in MIHAN area. Accordingly, both the agencies kept a watch at the spot in MIHAN area for past eight days. Finally, on Sunday, the joint team laid a trap and arrested the three persons and seized leopard skin from their possession from Shri Jai Umiya roadlines shop in Kapsi Khurd. The seized skin is four feet long and 1.5 feet in width. Nagpur Forest Division and WCCB sent a dummy customer for leopard skin to the accused. The accused changed various locations for the transaction in the last eight days.

 

On Sunday, two of the accused namely Sanjeev Damrudhar Behera (42), and Naresh Tejram Darode (48) agreed to meet at the roadlines shop in Kapsi Khurd. The joint team of officials nabbed them and seized the leopard skin from their possession.

 

During further enquiry, the officials nabbed third accused Pravin Shriram Lanjewar (41). All the three accused have been booked under various provisions of Wildlife (Protection) Act. Under the guidance of Yuvraj, Chief Conservator of Forest (Territorial), Nagpur; Dr Bharatsingh Hada, Deputy Conservator of Forest (Territorial); Pritamsingh Kodape, Vigilance Officer, the joint team that nabbed the trio and seized leopard skin included N G Chandewar, Assistant Conservator of Forest, Umred; L V Thokal, Range Forest Officer, Butibori; S B Kekan, Forest Guard, Butibori East; Nilesh Tawale, Ganesh Jadhav, Sudhir Kularkar, Dinesh Padwal, Vinod Shende, Mahadeo Munde, Maroti Munde, Sachin Raghorte, and others.