Pithoragarh, Feb 21 (PTI) A team of policemen and forest department officials recovered leopard skin worth Rs 12 lakh from a Nepali citizen and arrested him under the Wildlife Protection Act here today. Bharat Singh Kotari, a resident of Sipti in Nepal was living in Ascot area in the district with the consignment of leopard skins. The police said that the SOG team acted on a tip off and nabbed the culprit with four leopard skins worth Rs 12 lakh in the international market. "This is third such case which has come to light in last three months. On December 3, leopard's skin have been seized in Monocot area and 3 at DS Bisht Ground of the district," said SP, NA Bharne. "These leopards were killed recently at Narayan Nagar Forest in Didihat range," police said. According to the police the leopards were full grown and were four to five years old. After interrogation of the culprit the police learnt that these skins were to be purchased by a contact in the town and later would be sent to Delhi.
