Joint Team Arrests Wildlife Smugglers in West Champaran
Authorities in West Champaran district made a significant breakthrough against wildlife crime on Wednesday. A coordinated team from the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and the local forest department apprehended two individuals for smuggling animal organs.
Operation Near Govardhana Forest Range
The arrests occurred near the Govardhana forest range in Bettiah. Officials identified the suspects as Chandan Kumar, aged twenty, and Rameshwar Kazi, forty-seven. Both men hail from Barwa Kala village, which sits adjacent to the Valmiki Tiger Reserve.
Govardhana range ranger Brijlal Baitha provided details about the operation. His team received specific intelligence about smugglers moving towards Ramnagar with wildlife parts. Acting swiftly on this tip, the joint SSB and forest department unit increased surveillance and checks along the border road.
Interception and Discovery
During their patrol, the team spotted the two men on a motorcycle. They were carrying a suspicious sack. SSB personnel immediately stopped the bike and conducted a search.
Inside the sack, they discovered bones and various wildlife organs. Preliminary examination suggested the remains belonged to a bear. The discovery prompted intense questioning of the suspects.
The interrogation revealed shocking details. Chandan Kumar and Rameshwar Kazi confessed to killing a bear just a few days earlier. They used an iron trap to capture and kill the animal. Their plan involved smuggling the body parts for sale.
Official Statements and Legal Action
Neshamani K, the West Champaran forest conservator and director, commented on the seizure. He stated that the bones appear to be from a bear at first glance. The official confirmed the men killed the bear and intended to sell its parts.
"They are being questioned about their intended delivery point and possible accomplices," Neshamani K said. "We want to uncover any wider network involved in this wildlife organ smuggling."
He emphasized the seriousness of the crime. Hunting wildlife is a punishable offense under Indian law. Such acts of poaching and smuggling will not be tolerated by the authorities.
"An FIR will be registered against them for killing the bear and smuggling its body parts," the conservator declared. "Appropriate legal action will follow."
The case highlights ongoing challenges in protecting wildlife near sensitive areas like the Valmiki Tiger Reserve. It also demonstrates effective inter-agency cooperation in tackling environmental crimes.
