Ranchi: Three men were arrested with body parts of monitor lizards at a city hotel, forest officials said on Friday. The accused, Rajiv Ranjan Mishra (64), his son Avinash Anand (32), and Arun Ram (34), were arrested late on Thursday based on a tip-off from the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB). They have been booked under various sections of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (amended 2022) pertaining to hunting, possession, and sale of Schedule-1 animals.
Details of the Seizure
“We recovered 30 dried copulatory organs of monitor lizards from the hotel room,” said Ranchi Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Shrikant Verma. The organs are believed to be used in traditional medicine and illegal trade.
Background of the Accused
Mishra, a BJP worker, had contested the assembly election in 2014 on a ticket from the now-defunct Jharkhand Vikas Morcha – Prajatantrik, which was headed by former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi.
How the Arrest Happened
Forest officials said a tip-off was received from an officer of WCCB on Thursday morning about some individuals staying at Natraj Hotel in Daily Market for the purpose of illegal trafficking of monitor lizard limbs. Acting swiftly, a team raided the hotel and apprehended the trio.
The accused are being interrogated to trace the source and destination of the contraband. Further investigation is underway to identify any larger network involved in the illegal wildlife trade.
About the Author: ASRP Mukesh holds over 15 years of journalistic experience. He covers government, politics, and human interest stories from Jharkhand.
