Assam: Wildlife Trafficking Racket Busted; Mother-Son Duo Arrested

GUWAHATI: In a significant breakthrough against wildlife trafficking, the Assam police apprehended a mother-son duo from the West Karbi Anglong district of the state and Meghalaya's Shillong. The accused individuals, identified as Rindik Teringpi and Bidasingh Senar, hail from Gita Langkok village in the West Karbi Anglong district of Assam. Their arrest, which took place on August 16, is linked to charges of illegal wildlife trading, a grave offense that threatens the region's biodiversity.

The police operation resulted in the seizure of 7.60 grams of pangolin scales from Teringpi, underscoring the dire state of pangolin poaching in the area. However, the case takes a more sinister turn as investigators uncovered the duo's involvement in a larger inter-state wildlife trafficking network spanning Assam and Meghalaya. This network was previously implicated in another instance of smuggling, this time concerning tiger skin and bones.

Earlier, on June 29, 2023, the Azara police in Assam apprehended four individuals suspected of wildlife smuggling. The seizure included tiger bones and skin, sourced from the Kamrup district. Shockingly, these four individuals were connected to the poaching of a tiger in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli area. During subsequent questioning, the suspects confessed to the intended destination of these illegal body parts: Meghalaya, a common transit point for such contraband.

Following the initial arrest, the Azara police handed over the accused to the Assam forest department, marking a pivotal moment in the fight against wildlife trafficking. Later, on August 8, the forest department transferred the case's jurisdiction to the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), a specialized entity combating wildlife crime.

The WCCB acted promptly, invoking pertinent sections (9/39/40/48A/49B/51) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act to book the accused. As investigations unfolded, the scope of the criminal activity became evident, revealing a transnational wildlife trafficking network operating along international borders. This revelation underscores the complexity and global nature of the illegal wildlife trade, making coordinated efforts imperative for its eradication.

In conclusion, the arrest of the mother-son duo and the subsequent investigations by authorities highlight the interconnected nature of wildlife trafficking, emphasizing the need for cross-border collaboration in combating this illicit trade. The seizures of pangolin scales, tiger skin, and bones underscore the urgency of preserving and protecting these vulnerable species for the sake of ecological balance and biodiversity preservation.

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