KATHMANDU: Police said five persons were arrested in possession of protected species skulls and paws from Gairigaun in Tinkune of KMC-32.

Police identified the suspects as Mahesh Rai (23), Milan Subedi (23), Partirod Subedi (19) all hailing from Likhu Rural Municipality in Okhaldhunga district, Purna Bahadur Tamang (23) of Dudhkunda Municipality in Solukhumbu district and Shrawan Chaudhary (39) of Kanepokhari Rural Municipality in Morang district.

A police team deployed from Maharajgung-based Central Investigation Bureau apprehended them along with 39 pieces of skulls and six pieces of paws of protected species, yesterday.

Meanwhile, police have sent the suspects to the Department of Forest for further investigation and action today itself.