Leopard hide, nails worth lakhs seized; four held

Police have seized a leopard hide and nails collectively worth Rs 7.73 lakh after arresting four suspected poachers near Dombivli railway station in the district.
The arrests were made Monday by Crime Branch officials who found the four persons moving around in a suspicious manner, DCP (Crime) Parag Manere told reporters today.
"Police recovered leopard skin and seven nails from their possession. While the cost of the skin alone is Rs 7 lakh, the collective cost of the skin and nails is Rs 7.73 lakh," the officer said.
The arrested persons were identified as Sandip Sharma (36), Mahadev Vargade (67), Dehu Hamber (42) and Aakash Fage (22), all residents of Raigad district adjoining Mumbai.

Manere said the accused had allegedly killed the feline and were looking for potential customers to sell its hide and nails.
All the four were booked under various sections of the Protection of Wildlife Act 1972, he said.