A man has been caught with five leopard skins and sent to jail under several sections of Wildlife Protection Act, a forest official said on Monday. Gopi, resident of Punjab, has been arrested on Sunday night under various sections of Wildlife Protection Act, said BS Almia, forest officer of Pithoragarh range.
According to Almia, the smuggler, who has claimed to have purchased these skins from local persons in Rs 8 to 10 thousands, has relations with Kanjar groups which are frequently traversing in Himalayan region in search of these hauls.
After investigation, the smuggler told the forest team that he has connection with other team members involved in the trade at Kotdwar, Nepal and other parts of Himalayan region, Almia said. The culprit, who has been living at Rin Bichula village near the district headquarter under pretext of a blacksmith has over the years spread his contacts with local youths and persuaded them to kill wild animals, he said.
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