Three arrested for smuggling animal skin

Three persons were arrested in Bahraich district late on Sunday night for allegedly smuggling skins of wild animals to Nepal. They have been booked under the Wildlife Protection Act. Raju Singh,Surendra Singh and Dharamraj were caught from Ghagra carrying the skin of a leopard and several hyenas,said Vijay Kumar,Inspector in-charge of Special Operation Group (SOG) of Bahraich.

The trio were also involved in the smuggling of two tiger skins found in a suitcase last week in Rupaideehah,Bahraich. “Apparently,they were tipped off about our raid and abandoned the suitcase,which was later recovered by forest officials,” said Kumar.

The accused were a part of the international gang operating between India and Nepal. They have admitted that they have been working for the wildlife smugglers based in Nepal for the last five years,said Kumar.

“They were smuggling them out from Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal among other places,” he added. Bahraich,where the Katarniyaghat forest range is located,is home to over 50 tigers and an equal number of leopards.