Mazhar Ali 

Aug 4, 2015

Chandrapur: Forest officials of Sironcha range in Gadchiroli nabbed two persons with 8.5kg pangolin scales. The accused hail from Chhattisgarh and had smuggled the scales to Sironcha for an Asaralli-based doctor Prafulla Das, who was also arrested on their identification. Trio was produced before the local court in Sironcha on Sunday evening, from where they were sent into forest custody remand till August 5.

Forest officials got a tip-off about the people coming from Chhattisgarh with the pangolin scales. Accordingly RFO, Sironcha Range AD Karpe laid a trap for the approaching smugglers on the outskirts of Sironcha town. Four accused who came on two separate motorbikes were intercepted by the lurking forest team. Two of them, however, left their bikes and fled away in the jungle. The raiding team, however, nabbed the two other accused riding the second bike.

"Accused Samaiyya Gota and Bakkiaya Jawa, both from Chhatisgarh were arrested in the raid. Two more accused, however, managed to flee. We have seized 8.5kg pangolin scales along with two motorbikes from their possession. They had brought the scales for one Dr Prafulla Das who lives in Asaralli. Dr Das too was later arrested for his involvement in the crime," said RFO, Karpe.

ACF, Sironcha forest division, LM Belekar, said "The two accused tribals and Dr Das appear to be part of a large nexus involved in smuggling of pangolin scales to south Asian countries from Madhya Pradesh and other parts of the country.

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