Assam: Leopard parts seized in Sonitpur, One arrested

Guwahati: Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), Guwahati and Leopard parts were seized during a joint operation by a forest team on Tuesday from Nameri Range Office on Chariduar-Bhalukpong Road in Sonitpur district of Central Assam. , Official sources said.

A man, identified as Bablu Payeng , 26, from Uttar Dharikati police station in Sonitpur district, has been detained in connection with the recovery.

The operation was based on intelligence developed by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, Guwahati and was carried out in the Charidwar area from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Also, 109 leopard bones (approximately 10 kg) were recovered from a detainee near a GREF camp in the area, “WCCB sources said on Wednesday.

The case has been handed over to Namiri Range Office for further investigation.

The leopard is listed in Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and any offense related to leopard is punishable by seven to 10 years imprisonment in Assam and a fine of up to Rs. 50,000.

The WCCB, Guwahati, has in the last few months launched a massive crackdown on alleged wildlife smugglers across the region.

Earlier last month, WCCB Guwahati, police (both from Assam and Arunachal Pradesh) and police teams seized several parts of wildlife, including the skin and skull of a Royal Bengal Tiger, Forest Department

Three persons from Arunachal Pradesh were arrested.