Three wildlife smugglers held in U'khand with leopard skins

Pithoragarh (U'khand), Sep 13 (PTI) As part of a drive to nab wildlife smugglers, police and forest department teams have arrested three people, including a sadhu, and recovered two leopard skins from ir possession.

While Aan Singh Almia and Trilok Singh of Khumti vill in Dharchula were arrested with a leopard skin and bear bile in ir possession, Baba Chandan Giri of Khaflani Ashram in Mad vill near district headquarters was arrested with one leopard skin, two canines and 11 teeth of animal, DFO of Pithoragarh Vinay Bhargava said.

All three of m were arrested on Sunday night and were sent to jail under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, he said.

"We are trying to find out about network of se wildlife smugglers by interrogating m," he said.

According to DFO, length of skins is more than 2 metres in both cases.

se precious organs fetch wildlife smugglers lakhs of rupees when sold in international market, DFO said. PTI COR ALM SNE SNE