On Thursday night, police in Assam uncovered a wildlife smuggling ring. A team from the Special Task Force (STF) of the Assam Police stopped two men who were trying to move a batch of endangered animals and body parts across the country.
The operation took place near Jakhalabandha in Nagaon district. Armed with intel and support from the Wildlife Crime Control (WCC) agency, the STF team set up a check point in the Kuthori area. The two suspects were riding a Honda Glamour motorcycle when officers boarded them and seized the cargo.
The recovered items were a mix of protected wildlife and parts that are highly sought by illegal traders: six Tokay geckos (called “Keko Khap” locally), a live slow loris (known as “Lajuki Bandor”), more than ten kilos of pangolin scales, the motorcycle, and a couple of mobile phones with SIM cards. The suspects, 30‑year‑old Bidya Singnar and 29‑year‑old Samson Kathar, live in Rongmongve, Karbi Anglong district.
After the arrest, the STF and WCC handed the suspects over to the Jakhalabandha Police Station and filed a formal complaint. Legal action will follow under the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.
Preliminary reports suggest the cargo was destined for international markets, where pangolin scales and other exotic parts fetch high prices. Officials suspect the animals were taken from the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Assam.
Investigations into the full extent of the trafficking network are still ongoing. The crackdown underscores Assam Police’s commitment to protecting the state’s rich wildlife and curbing illegal trade.
Source: ianslive
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