(IN): Deer antlers bound for China seized in Manipur

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Link:

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Jul232007/national2007072214522.asp

 

Deer antlers bound for China seized in Manipur

DH News Service, Guwahati:

 

Paramilitary guards on the India-Myanmar border have seized a consignment of

deer antlers in the northeastern state of Manipur.

 

The illegal consignment apparently originated in Orissa and was bound for

China.

 

The Assam Rifles (AR) personnel seized it just when it was being smuggled

into Myanmar.

 

 

The AR personnel arrested the driver of the truck that carried the

consignment to Moreh, a town on the India-Myanmar border in Manipur.

 

Col L M Pant, a spokesman of the AR, stated that the personnel of the

paramilitary force seized eight cartons of deer antlers when the consignment

was being unloaded from a truck at Moreh. The truck's driver, Laishram

Panthoi, is a resident of the border-town. " We have handed over the

consignment and the driver to the wildlife officials of the state

government, " said Col Pant.

 

Sources said preliminary investigations indicated that the consignment had

come from Orissa and was on its way to China through Myanmar.

 

*Rising demand*

" Deer antlers – like other organs of wild animals – are in great demand in

both Myanmar and China, where it is used to make traditional medicines, "

said wildlife activist Azam Siddiqui.

 

he State's chief wildlife warden A K Rana said a team of officials had left

for Moreh to interrogate the driver of the truck and bring the seized

consignment to the capital town, Imphal. Moreh is a busy border-trade point

between India and Myanmar.

 

The wildlife officials and activists suspect that the wildlife traffickers

take advantage of the porous border to smuggle illegal consignments to

Myanmar and China.

 

" Myanmar has been a hub of illegal wildlife trade in South Asia. The forest

and wildlife officials in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram

are not adequately equipped to keep vigil all along the border, " said Mr

Siddiqui, who is a master-trainer in animal welfare with the Animal Welfare

Board of India.

 

This is for the first time that such a huge consignment of animal parts has

been seized on the India-Myanmar border.

 

Mr Siddiqui said that the wildlife officials should thoroughly investigate

into the case and track down the international racket.

 

" If necessary, the state government should take help from the central

agencies, " he added.

 

 

 

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