Baripada, Oct, 31: The wildlife division of Rairangpur arrested two poachers after seizing a leopard skin from their possession.

The accused persons were identified as Surendra Singh, 45, resident of Panasadiha and Rabi Murmu, 25, of Juha village, both in Bangriposhi police station limits.

The leopard skin bore bullet marks. The accused confessed that they had killed the male leopard on Friday night at Bajam under Bangriposhi forest range.

The duo was intercepted when they were about to sell the leopard skin at the Bangriposhi market. They were caught near a roadside dhaba.

The accused were taken to the spot today where they had killed the leopard on Friday. Rairangpur divisional forest officer Yagnadutta Pati said the leopard was full-grown.

Poaching activities have been rampant in the area in the recent months. In the second week of March, Rairangpur wildlife personnel had arrested five persons and seized a leopard skin and a tusk from their possession.

"Despite claims by the department, poaching in Simlipal goes unabated. Such cases should be probed by the crime branch to know if a syndicate is operating here," said wildlife expert Bhanumitra Acharya.