Leopard's skull, claws seized

The accused is identified as 60-year-old Gopalaiah of Belathuru village. He was trying to sell the haul at Sogahalli Gate on Mysore-Manadavady Road when police arrested him.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, CPI Mallik said that Gopalaiah had set a trap in his farm to catch the wild boars, which were destroying his crops. However, when a leopard fell into the trap, Gopalaiah is said to have thrown the body of the leopard into the nearby lake.

After a few days when the body decayed, he took the leopard’s skull and claws and tried to sell it. Police constables Gowrishankar, Nataraju, Anthony, Manjunath, Guru and self-help groups Muthanna were also present in the operation.

A case is registered.