Two Pangolin smugglers nabbed in joint operation

Raipur | Correspondent: A joint team from the Chhattisgarh and Odisha forest departments has arrested two pangolin smugglers from Odisha, seizing 160 pangolin scales, likely from two or three pangolins.

The accused have been placed in judicial custody, and efforts are underway to locate other suspects involved in the case.

Varun Jain, Deputy Director of the Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve, reported that the operation was initiated after receiving information about a large number of pangolin scales being smuggled in Tentulikhunti village, Nabarangpur district, Odisha.

The Udanti-Sitanadi anti-poaching team coordinated with the Kalahandi Forest Division and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) to conduct the joint operation.

On June 9, the team successfully arrested Bhaskar Majhi (22) from Mahulpatna village, Kalahandi district, and Laxman Majhi (35) from Tentulikhunti village, Nabarangpur district, near the Nabarangpur-Kalahandi border.

In addition to the pangolin scales, a motorcycle and two mobile phones used in the smuggling operation were seized.

The arrested individuals were taken to the forest range in Jaipatna for further interrogation and subsequently sent to jail in judicial custody.

Authorities are continuing to search for additional suspects connected to the case.

Chhattisgarh-Odisha: A Hub for Pangolin Smuggling

The border area between Chhattisgarh and Odisha, rich in Sal forests, is known to be a major hub for pangolin smuggling.

Pangolins, which are abundant in these forests, are the most smuggled wild animals in the world.

They are targeted due to various superstitions associated with them, driving the illegal trade.