Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Guwahati: Police arrested one man in Assam's Biswanath district following a raid on his home. A joint task force recovered a suspected rhinoceros horn and seven swamp deer antlers during the operation on Monday night.
The Forest Crime Investigation team teamed up with the Eastern Range of the Biswanath Wildlife Division and local police to execute the search. They moved after receiving specific information about the contraband hidden on the property. Official records released on October 27 confirm the arrest.
The suspect faces charges under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. This law offers the highest level of legal protection to both rhinoceroses and swamp deer, classifying them under Schedule I. Investigators are still working the case. "Further investigation is underway," officials stated.
Updated at 28th October 2026 at 2:00am
Officers identified the man in custody as 42-year-old Dipen Pegu. The raid hit a residence in Baligaon, located in the Gohpur area of the district, around 11:30 p.m. on October 26.
Forest department records indicate Pegu is a repeat offender with a history of wildlife crimes. Investigators are currently tracing where the horn and antlers came from and checking for ties to larger trafficking syndicates. The operation involved personnel from the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve.
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