 MAJOR
SEIZURE OF WILDLIFE ARTICLES MADE IN SILIGURI
NEW DELHI, February 12, 2003: A major seizure
of 20 leopard skins and 19 otter skins were made by the West
Bengal police from Matigara police station area on the outskirts
of Siliguri yesterday, according to sources.
The wildlife articles were seized from three persons who
have been arrested. A case has been registered against Tapan
Sarkar, Archana Sarkar, and Prahlad Nirala.
According to Mr Ashok Kumar, Senior Advisor and Trustee,
Wildlife Trust of India, WTI had gathered information on wildlife
articles at Siliguri two months ago but it took some time
to develop the case.
Siliguri in West Bengal is a major gateway for smuggling wildlife
articles to Nepal from where these goods go to yet unknown
destinations. All the major seizures of wildlife articles
in last two years had leopard and otter skins and the flow
is not ending. New strategies are needed to tackle this menace,
Mr Kumar said.
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