GUWAHATI, Nov. 7: A team from the Special Task Force, Guwahati, carried out a joint operation with the forest department at Kuthori under Jakhalabandha police station in Nagaon district in the wee hours of Friday and arrested two persons for illegal smuggling of endangered wildlife species, official sources said.
The accused wildlife smugglers, identified as Bidya Singnar and Samson Kathar, both residents of Karbi Anglong district, have been handed over to the Jakhalabandha police station.
Officials said the STF and forest teams had conducted a raid based on source input regarding illegal smuggling of Tokay Gecko lizards (keko khap) and other wildlife species by certain miscreants in the Jakhalabandha area of Nagaon district.
“A raid was conducted near a playground at Kuthori where the two accused persons were intercepted while riding a bike with some bags,” an official said.
During the search of the bags by STF, the wildlife animals and artifacts were recovered by the STF team, including six Tokay Gecko, one live Loris (lajuki bandor) and Pangolin scales weighing 10.630 kilograms.
“Accordingly, the STF team had lodged an FIR at Jakhalabandha police station. Legal action has been initiated. The forest ranger of Bagori has registered a case,” the official said.
