Exotic animals worth Rs 130L seized in Mizoram dist

Aizawl: In a joint operation on Wednesday, officials from the Mizoram environment, forests & climate change department and Assam Rifles seized exotic animals worth Rs 130 lakh in Champhai district, along the Myanmar border, Champhai forest division officials said on Thursday. The animals were being smuggled from Myanmar and were kept at Zokhawthar village, the officials added.

Six individuals have been apprehended in connection with the seizure, including five from Zokhawthar. They have been identified as Jessie Lalnunmawia, Biakzapianga, Lalzuitluangi, Denga and Lalhmangaihthanga.

Thawnsuangmuang from Khawmawi in the Chin state of Myanmar was sixth accused to have been nabbed by the officials during the operation. The accused have been booked under relevant sections of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and were produced before the judicial magistrate in Champhai, before being remanded to judicial custody at Champhai district jail.

The seized animals included one albino Burmese python, 27 African spurred tortoises and 3 Patagonian maras.

Previously, officials of the wildlife division of the adjoining Khawzawl district had arrested one Biakchungnunga from Khawzawl town for killing a barking deer and a rufous-throated partridge on March 26. Biakchungnunga was booked under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and is currently imprisoned in Champhai district jail.