Four Arrested in Arunachal Pradesh for Rhino Horn Smuggling
Significant Wildlife Trafficking Bust in Arunachal Pradesh
The team of Balijan Police and the four alleged poachers. (Photo:@NatungMama/X)
Itanagar, May 13: Authorities in Arunachal Pradesh's Papum Pare district have apprehended four individuals in connection with the possession of a rhinoceros horn, which is estimated to be worth approximately Rs 1.2 crore.
On May 12, a coordinated operation was executed in Hollongi and nearby regions of Assam, based on reliable information regarding wildlife trafficking, as stated by Taru Gusar, the Superintendent of Police (Rural) for Papum Pare.
During this operation, law enforcement seized one rhinoceros horn, with the suspects indicating that it was intended for smuggling at a value of around Rs 1.2 crore.
A case has been filed at the Balijan Police Station, and investigations are ongoing to explore potential interstate or international connections, Gusar noted.
Home Minister Mama Natung of Arunachal Pradesh praised the operation, reaffirming the government's dedication to wildlife conservation.
In a social media update, Natung remarked, "The successful joint operation by Balijan Police and the forest department against the alleged smuggling of a suspected rhino horn demonstrates our government's strong commitment to wildlife protection and the fight against organized crime."
He emphasized that wildlife trafficking poses a significant risk to ecological stability and the nation's natural heritage, warning that such illegal activities will face stringent legal repercussions.
Global wildlife conservation organizations, including the World Wide Fund for Nature and the International Union for Conservation of Nature, have highlighted that habitat destruction and poaching continue to threaten rhino populations, despite ongoing conservation efforts.