DSP (Hqrs) Bhargava Goswami clarifies joint operation in seizing forest species

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

SILCHAR: The Forest Department of Cachar has claimed operation in seizing exotic birds and animals was a solo operation by its force. This has got wide publicity in the media, print and electronic, sidetracking the role of the police personnel of Lyllapur check post close to Vereingte, the entry point of Mizoram, and the Dholai police station. Deputy Superintendent of Police (Hqrs) Bhargava Goswami who came this afternoon to Dholai police station to collect relevant information in respect of the seizure speaking to The Sentinel over telephone said, "It was not a solo operation as claimed by the Forest Department, but a joint operation in which our men played their own role. It is also not to take credit who did first, but to put the record straight for the information of the media and the people."

The fact is that it were the police contingent of Lyllapur and Dholai who during patrolling of the most vulnerable stretch of NH 54 to Mizoram detained a truck coming from the hill state around midnight of Tuesday and discovered a kangaroo, six macaw parrots, three tortoises and two monkeys caged in wooden boxes which were bound for Guwahati as disclosed by the truckers, Narsimha Reddy and Navnath Tukaram. After intercepting the truck, the beat and range officers of Lyllapur and Dholai who were on routine check of trucks carrying illegal forest materials on the highway were informed who took the responsibility of the wild species for care and protection.

Apan Chandra Paul in charge Lyllapur check post and Shahabuddin Barbhuiya officer in charge Dholai police station seemed pained and peeved at the version of the forest department to put them on the backburner as if the police was watching the midnight operation from the sideline. Bhargava Goswami said after they get remand of the truckers from the Court and take them in their custody, all the facts behind their transportation from and to, besides involvement of any wild life trafficking will be revealed. Of concern is the very question of survival of kangaroo in Indian climate, according to wild life experts.

Kangaroo is found in abundance in the wilds of Australia and is not on endangered list. Cachar forest department in the meantime got all the birds and animals examined by the veterinary wing and is exploring the option of releasing them in the Borail Hills. A question which impinges the mind of people is, how can these species caged in a truck travel all the way most probably from Mynamar border, pass through check gates and the most important gate at Vereingte of Mizoram where ILP is enforced. Such passage for illegal trafficking only makes a mockery of inner line permit.

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