Gondia: Police arrested five smugglers from Gujarat who were found transporting five rare Common Cranes species of Saras bird in a car in Gondia.
The suspects, all residents of Surat, Gujarat, were apprehended on Tuesday night by a Highway Police team while they were travelling on National Highway No 53 near Bamhni village. The arrests were made following a thorough investigation by law enforcement and forest officials.
Today’s Rate
Saturday 05 Oct. 2024
Late on Tuesday night, a Highway Police team in Dongargaon encountered two suspicious four-wheelers on National Highway No 53. The vehicles in question were a Toyota Innova (GJ-05/JB-7737) and a Suzuki Brezza (GJ-05/RE-7430). Upon stopping the vehicles and questioning the drivers and passengers, the following individuals were taken into custody: Samir Shakil Mansuri (29) and Hazruddin Ghulam Moinuddin Maulvi (25), both residents of Surat, Gujarat, and were travelling in the Toyota Innova. During a subsequent search of the Innova’s rear section, the police discovered five rare Common Cranes.
The passengers in the Suzuki Brezza were identified as: Musa Sheikh (24), Shehzad Sheikh (29) and Pathan Hussain Ghulam Sabir (19), all residents of Bhindi Bazar in Surat. They informed the police that they were travelling from Kolkata to Mumbai but failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for why they were transporting the rare birds in their vehicles.
Upon discovering the rare bird species in the possession of the suspects, Police Sub-Inspector Dineshkumar Lilhare promptly informed his superiors and Forest Department officials. A team from the Forest Department, led by Range Forest Officer Manoj Gadve and Honorary Wildlife Warden Sawan Bahekar, arrived at the scene. They confirmed that the transportation of these birds was illegal, as they are protected under wildlife conservation laws.
Subsequently, a case was registered against all five accused under the Wildlife Protection Act. The Dongargaon Police handed over the case to the Forest Department for further investigation. The police team involved in the operation included PSI Jokar, Lilhare, Constable Banote, Ali, and others.
-Ravi Arya
