Telangana : Police arrested four people, including three hunters, for allegedly killing a leopard and removing its skin and claws for sale in Bhadradri Kothagudem district.
Police seized the leopard skin and 17 claws from the accused.
Hunters killed leopard after it fell into pit
Superintendent of Police B Rohith Raju disclosed the details at his office in Kothagudem on Monday.
TG RERA fines Bentley Woods promoter ₹98 lakh over villa sales
Last year, a leopard fell into a pit in a forest area near Gammalakota village in Chintur mandal of Andhra Pradesh. Villagers Kunja Bhadrayya, Kunja Gangaraju and Madavi Kannayya allegedly killed the animal by hitting it with stones and sticks and shooting arrows at it.
They then removed its skin and claws and began looking for buyers.
Police seize skin, claws during raid
Challa Anil Kumar of Tallagommuru village in Sarapaka, Burgampadu mandal, met Bhadrayya while looking for leased agricultural land. After Bhadrayya told him about the leopard skin, Anil Kumar joined the trio and offered to help sell it.
The three hunters kept the leopard skin and claws in a bag and brought them to Anil Kumar's house on Monday.
Acting on specific information, Burgampadu sub-inspector I Nagabhiksham and Task Force personnel conducted a raid and took all four into custody.