A 41-year-old man from Odisha’s Nabarangpur district was arrested on Sunday on charges of smuggling the skin of the Royal Bengal tiger, forest officials said.
Nabarangpur forest officials said Shibun Thakre, a priest from Khaligoda village, was arrested by an undercover team while negotiating the sale of animal skins. However, two of Thackeray’s accomplices managed to escape into the forest after sensing the presence of the enforcement team.
Divisional forest officer Udayan Subodhi said that a special team formed under the supervision of assistant conservator of forests Subhash Chandra Khuntia and Dabogaon group officer Ramachandra Patra reached the Patri reserve forest area behind the Patri gram panchayat office around 4 pm and posed as potential buyers.
During the operation, police identified one of the suspects who allegedly tried to sell the skin of the Royal Bengal tiger hidden in a bag.
The tiger skin, which was reportedly stitched, was offered in exchange for it, Subodhi said $10 lakh. Forest officials suspect a larger wildlife smuggling network operating in the area.
A case has been registered under relevant wildlife protection laws.
