KATHMANDU: Three persons were arrested in possession of three hides of protected leopard and clouded leopard from Budhanilakantha of Kathmandu on Sunday.

Rup Bahadur Tamang (28) and Suresh Tamang (26) from Beteni-1 of Nuwakot and Kul Bahadur Ghale (34) from Kumpur-9 of Dhading district were arrested from a hairdressing salon operated by Ramesh Thakur in Budhanilakantha-6 of Kathmandu.

A team deployed from the Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police had nabbed them.

The suspects have been sent to the Hattisar-based Kathmandu District Forests Office for further investigation and action.