Jalpaiguri, 10th November: A man was arrested on the charge of wildlife smuggling. The accused has been identified as Basudeb Oriya of the Hasimara area of Alipurduar district.
It has been learned that Lataguri Forest Department and Ramshai Range forest workers, acting on a tip-off, arrested the smuggler and rescued a pangolin from his possession.
In this regard, Lataguri Ranger Sankhasuvra Dutta said, “We had information that pangolin was being smuggled. Accordingly, we contacted the sellers in the disguise of customers. The accused came from Hasimara to sell pangolins in Jhajhangi, Jalpaiguri. He was arrested soon after, although one of the smugglers managed to escape. The forest department is looking for those involved in the incident.” The arrested accused was produced at the court today.