Morena (Madhya Pradesh): In a major wildlife crime bust, forest department officials in Madhya Pradesh’s Morena district, caught a gang of gharial smugglers for the first time.
Working together with the police, the team recovered 30 baby gharials from the smugglers' vehicle in Joura town.
Deputy Ranger Vinod Upadhyay from the Joura forest department received a tip-off that some smugglers were transporting gharials.
He quickly informed Joura Police Station in-charge Udaybhan Singh Yadav and SDOP Nitin Baghel. The police set up a checking point without delay.
FP Photo
During the checking, a four-wheeler was stopped and searched. Inside, officers found 30 baby gharials. The police arrested all 3 accused and handed over the rescued gharials to the forest department.
According to information, the arrested smugglers were identified as Raju Adivasi, son of Jagdish, resident of Mauranipur. Vijay, son of Shashikant Gaur, resident of Barrack Quarters, Thatipur, Gwalior. Ramveer Singh, son of Shiv Singh Baghel, resident of Surya Vihar Colony, Pintu Park, Gwalior.
Joura SDOP Nitin S Baghel confirmed that one vehicle was seized and 3 smugglers were caught with the baby gharials in their possession.
Further investigation is underway to find out where the gharials were being taken and if more people are involved in the smuggling network.
