Three Arrested in Assam for Poaching Protected Monitor Lizard

Guwahati: Forest officials and police raided Milanpur village in Sonapur on Thursday, August 6. They caught three men linked to the illegal hunting and consumption of a Monitor Lizard. The lizard holds status as a Schedule I protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.

The operation began around 1 pm after officials received a tip. Sonapur Forest Range Officer Bhargab Hazarika led the raid with help from the Khetri Police Station. Officers nabbed Karan Boro, 24, and Bihuram Daimary, 37, at the site. A follow-up investigation tracked down 60-year-old Mustak Ali in the same village. All three men remain in custody as the case continues.

Authorities treat crimes against Schedule I species as severe legal breaches. The forest department noted the arrest highlights their commitment to protecting endangered wildlife. "The operation reflected the coordinated efforts of enforcement agencies to curb wildlife offences and strengthen protection measures for endangered and protected species in Kamrup district," a spokesperson stated regarding the investigation.