Guwahati: In a significant crackdown on wildlife trafficking, a joint operation by the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), police, and forest personnel led to the arrest of a man with a cache of protected animal parts near the India-Bhutan border in Assam’s Kamrup district.
The arrest, which took place on August 21 near the Guabari border outpost, came after intelligence pointed to a potential smuggling attempt. The accused, identified as Som Hansda, was apprehended on the Indian side of the border.
A thorough search of his belongings yielded a shocking haul, including a molar tooth of an elephant, teeth and hair from a wild boar, an owl skull, and the bones of several other unidentified animals. According to H.K. Gupta, commandant of the 24th battalion of the SSB, the operation was a result of heightened vigilance and community engagement efforts in the sensitive border region.
Hansda has since been handed over to the forest department at Kumarikata for further investigation and legal proceedings. Officials stated that regular appeals are made to local residents to assist in reporting any suspicious activities, and this arrest underscores the importance of such collaboration in curbing illegal wildlife trade.
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