Crackdown on Pangolin Smugglers: Three Arrested, 43 Kilos of Scales Seized
Raipur, January 8
The Chhattisgarh Forest Department has once again achieved a major success against wildlife smugglers. A joint team of the Bastar Forest Division, the state-level Forest Flying Squad Raipur, and the Wildlife Trust of India, in a major operation, seized 43 kilograms of pangolin scales (sal khapree ka chhaal).
This campaign to apprehend wildlife smugglers was carried out under the guidance of Forest Minister Shri Kedarnath Kashyap and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Shri Srinivas Rao.
Based on a tip-off, three smugglers were arrested in raids conducted on January 7.
The first accused, James Mathew, a resident of Teli Marenga village in Jagdalpur range, from whose house 32 kilograms of pangolin scales were recovered. Preliminary investigations revealed that the accused had collected these scales from the interior areas of Bijapur during the lockdown and was searching for a buyer.
The second action took place on the Mardum-Barsur road in the Chitrakot range, where Chunnilal Baghel and Rajkumar Kushwaha were caught red-handed with 11 kilograms of pangolin scales. However, their two associates managed to escape by taking refuge in the jungle. A search is on for the absconding accused. A motorcycle used in the smuggling has also been recovered. The arrested accused have been produced in the court and legal proceedings have been initiated.
The following officials played a significant role in the said operation: Deputy Conservator of Forests Jagdalpur Shri Devalal Dugga, Deputy Conservator of Forests Chitrakot Shri Yogesh Kumar Ratre, Forest Range Officer Chitrakot Shri Prakash Thakur, Forest Range Officer Jagdalpur Shri Devendra Verma, Range Officer Koleng Shri Budhram Sahu, Assistant Range Officer Chitrakot Shri Budhru Ram Kashyap, Assistant Range Officer Jagdalpur (Rural) Shri Lallan Ji Tiwari, Assistant Range Officer Jagdalpur (Urban) Shri Shridhar Nath Snehi, Forest Guard Shri Chautan Singh Kashyap, Ms. Shardha Mandavi, Shri Shankar Singh Baghel, Shri Gopal Nag, Shri Ram Singh Baghel, Shri Kailash Nagesh, Ms. Kavita Thakur, Smt. Kunti Kashyap, Smt. Jayanta Netam, Smt. Sonamati, Smt. Chandrika Rana, Smt. Deepa Patel, Shri Umar Dev Korram, Shri Kamal Thakur, etc.