Srinagar, Jan 30: The Union Environment Minister, Prakash Javadekar Saturday congratulated the wildlife crime control bureau (WCCB) for busting wildlife trafficking syndicates in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the news agency—the union environment minister congratulated the WCCB on its “continued commitment towards ending wildlife crime.”
Earlier, today WCCB busted wildlife trafficking syndicates and recovered huge quantity of wildlife contrabands in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district and Manwal area of Jammu region.
An official said that the wildlife trafficking syndicates were busted in two separate raids in Kashmir and Jammu region respectively.
He said that in an unprecedented intelligence operation of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), New Delhi, two epicentres of illegal wildlife poaching and trade were identified in Anantnag and Manwal in Kashmir and Jammu regions respectively.
He said that in a joint operation of WCCB officers, who flew in from Delhi, officers of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Wildlife Warden and Police, conducted simultaneous raids at both places on Friday.
The official said that during the raid in Anantnag, 08 leopard pelts, 38 bear biles, 04 musk pods were seized from one Gul Mohammad Ganie, a resident of Sherpura area of Anantnag.
“05 Leopard pelts, 07 leopard nails, 08 canines, 02 molars, 02 leopard skulls and leopard bones (04 Jaw bones, 140 bones pieces), 01 musk teeth were seized in Manwal of Jammu region from one Kushal Hussain Bocked, a resident of Kingriyal of Jammu,” he said.
The official said that preliminary investigation revealed that both the offenders arrested at two places were partners in the Illegal Wildlife Trade.
“Further investigation will reveal for how long they have been involved in this illegal trade, as also quantum, extent and associates of this illegal business. Efforts are being made to trace the forward and backward linkages of this illegal activity, demand and supply chains and onward traders’ linkages,” he said.
He further said that the present seizure is one of the largest seizures in the recent past.
“Musk deer and Himalayan Black bear are endangered species and poached for musk pods, bear bile, which is used in Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCM),” he said.
He said that these poached animals—leopard, bear and musk deer are listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
“As per the provisions of the Act, poaching of these animals and trading their by parts is punishable with minimum 03 years of imprisonment extendable up to 07 years.”
He said that a case has been registered in police station Anantnag.
