Meghalaya: Endangered Pangolin rescued in Garo Hills, criminal gang busted
BAGHMARA | Oct 20, 2019:
An endangered pangolin (ant-eater) was rescued by the South Garo Hills (SGH) police today early morning from the clutches of gang of wildlife smugglers during a 'naka' checkpoint under Nongalbibra police station in the district.
The police also managed to apprehend a gang of wildlife smugglers in the process.
Pangolins or scaly anteaters have large, protective keratin scales covering their skin and are the only known mammals with this feature. The species now falls under the endangered sector with their dwindling population a big cause of worry in Garo Hills.
According to police sources, the Bolero vehicle was intercepted at the checking point and when police asked the driver to stop, they tried to flee but were stopped in the village of Rongkandi.
Upon being checked, a live pangolin (locally known as kawate) was found from their possession.
"The vehicle along with the 5 occupants, suspected to be poachers were handed over to the Wild Life department for further necessary from their end. The pangolin was handed over to them as well," said superintendent of police, SGH Abraham T Sangma.
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Police suspect the arrested traffickers to be members of a criminal gang involved in theft and sale of such exotic animals, the meat of which are delicacies in countries like China.
The five arrested persons have been identified as Abdul Sanjiv Prodany (25 yrs) Md Johdul Ali (22Yrs), Mainur Rahman (45 yrs), Hachen Ali (32 yrs) from the village of Matia in Goalpara in Assam and Dipson A Sangma 39 yrs of Dosogre (SGH).
