GUWAHATI: Intensified operations across Assam by teams from the sub-regional office of Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) here have led to the seizure of over 10kg pangolin scales within a fortnight.
WCCB sources told EastMojo that 6.300kg scales of pangolin (locally called bon rou) were seized in a joint operation conducted by teams from WCCB Guwahati and Digboi Forest Division at Gogoi Dhaba, near Makum National Highway, Makum in Tinsukia district of Upper Assam on Monday.
“The operation was based on intelligence inputs developed by the WCCB sub regional office here. Three persons belonging to Arunachal Pradesh have been detained in connection with the case,” a WCCB official informed.
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The accused trio have been identified as Amal Bikash Sakma from Maitripur, Changlang district; Lakhi Ram Sakma from Diyun village in Changlang district and Basant Kumar Sakma from New Colony, Hollongi in Papumpare district.
“According to preliminary information, they brought the contraband from their villagers. Further interrogation is going on,” the official said.
The case has been handed over to Lakhipathar Forest Range Office under Digboi Division. The entire operation was led by Jawaharlal Baro, assistant director WCCB SRO, Guwahati, and Ranjit Ram, the divisional forest officer of Digboi Division.
Pangolins are enlisted in Schedule-I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and declared a “critically endangered” species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
On January 27, a joint operation conducted by teams from the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) Guwahati and Assam forest department (Sonapur range) led to the seizure of pangolin scales weighing 4.100 kg from a resort in Sonapur on the outskirts of Guwahati.
According to intelligence inputs developed by (WCCB) Guwahati, the teams raided a room at Dichang Resort and seized the pangolin scales.
Seven accused have been detained and three motor bikes have also been seized.
“The accused had brought the contraband items from Meghalaya. They collected the items in small quantities from villagers for East Khasi Hills and Tura, in order to sell them to some buyers,” a statement from WCCB (Guwahati) said.
The teams were led by Hiten Borah of WCCB, Guwahati.