KATHMANDU: Police have arrested three people with red panda hides from Dang.

Three persons were held with five pieces of red panda skin during a security check at Bhaluwang-Pyuthan road section in Rapti Rural Municipality-1.

The arrested have been identified as Ram Bahadur Thapa, 32, Rupak Khadka, 20, and Ram Kumar Pun Magar, 19, of Ropla. All the three are from Rolpa, clarified Dang District Police Office.

Initial investigation revealed that they got the red panda skin from the Himalayan region and were taking it for sale elsewhere.

Further investigation is underway, police said.