State to have Wildlife Crime Control Unit
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 14 2015:
Saying that smugglers have started taking a new route via Behiang in Churachandpur district to smuggle wildlife products to Myanmar, Chief Wildlife Warden PN Prasad has said that the State will have a Wildlife Crime Control Unit soon.
Talking to The Sangai Express, PN Prasad said that smugglers have stopped using Imphal-Moreh road to transport shells, horns, bones, feathers and skins of different wild animals and birds to Myanmar and China.
There are reports of smugglers taking a new route via Behiang in Churachandpur district following strict vigils by security forces including Assam Rifles on Imphal-Moreh road, he added.
PN Prasad said that he would personally write to Assam Rifles and agencies concerned to arrest smugglers and check transportation of wildlife products on the new route as well.
It may be mentioned that there are reports of bringing in these products to Manipur in trucks by concealing it in construction sand.
He said that Wildlife Crime Control Bureau has decided to open a Unit in the State soon.
In this regard, the bureau conducted a meeting yesterday.
Saying that Wildlife Crime Control Bureau units would be opened in the districts as well, PN Prasad said that he had directed the Divisional Forest Officers to check sale of wildlife products at their respective areas.
With regard to receiving a deer as a gift by a Minister at a function, PN Prasad said that the Department concerned has requested the Minister not to accept such gifts in future and added that necessary steps are being processed to declare new wildlife sanctuaries.