LAKHIMPUR: In a major crackdown against wildlife smuggling, a man was arrested yesterday with 1.3 kg of rhino horn in Dholpur area under Assam's Lakhimpur district. A police team led by Narayanpur Officer-in-Charge Nipon Gogoi acted on credible information about illegal activities in the region and raided the residence of Neela Gogoi, a local resident.
The search led to the finding of the rhino horn, following which Neela was arrested. The seized item and the accused were then handed over to the Forest Department for further investigation. Neela is now charged under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which provides severe punishment to the poachers and sellers of wildlife products.
While under interrogation, Neela revealed that on December 3, three unknown men had approached him with an offer to sell him the horn for Rs 5 lakh. When he refused, saying he didn't have the money, the men told him to hold the horn and look for a buyer, and promised to give him a good commission. They apparently left, saying they would return in a week.
Now, the authorities are keen to identify them and trace the broader network involved in the trafficking of endangered species. The investigations are still on to determine if the suspect or the traffickers have links with other poaching incidents in the region.
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