In a major breakthrough against wildlife trafficking, Satpuli Police in Uttarakhand’s Pauri district arrested a man with a leopard skin, foiling an alleged attempt to sell the protected wildlife item in Haryana. A case has been registered against the accused under the Wildlife Protection Act, and he is being produced before the court.
According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sarvesh Panwar, police received specific intelligence that Sandeep Dhasmana, a resident of Pokhari (Dudharakhal) village, was in possession of a leopard skin and was planning to sell it.
Acting on the tip-off, a police team led by Satpuli SHO Anil Chauhan conducted a raid at the accused’s residence on Thursday. During the search, the police recovered a leopard skin from a tin box inside the house based on the accused’s disclosure.
During interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed that he had trapped and killed the leopard in a snare nearly two years ago in a nearby forest. He admitted to removing the skin and hiding it at his residence while waiting for a suitable buyer before selling it.
Police have registered a case against the accused under the relevant provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act. Investigators are also probing whether the accused had links to an organized wildlife trafficking network or was acting independently. Officials said the investigation is ongoing, and further action will be taken based on the findings.
