Rajganj, 20th January: The Belakoba Forest Range arrested three people with around 48 kgs of pangolin scales. The arrested accused have been identified as Dharamvir Dhabi (35), Bagchand Dhabi (69), and Dalbir (55). They are residents of Haryana and Punjab. It has been learned that the estimated market value of the recovered pangolin scales is around Rs 1 crore.
Baikunthapur Division ADFO Manjula Tirkey said that Belakoba Range Officer Sanjay Dutta, acting on a tip-off, arrested the individuals from Jalpaimore in Siliguri on Thursday afternoon. After questioning, they confessed that the pangolin scales were being smuggled from Madhya Pradesh to Nepal. Among them, Bagchand Dhabi was also arrested earlier with pangolin scales.
The arrested individuals will be produced at Jalpaiguri court on Friday.