Gorakhpur, Jul 15 (PTI) The Uttar Pradesh STF on Wednesday said it has arrested an alleged interstate wildlife trafficker from Gorakhpur and rescued 580 protected birds, including 380 rose-ringed parakeets and 200 red munias.
The accused, identified as Seraj Ahmad, a resident of Raiganj Uttari under the Rajghat police station area, was arrested on Tuesday following a joint operation by the Special Task Force (STF), the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) and the Forest Department.
It said seven iron cages used for transporting the birds were also seized from his possession, According to the STF, it had received intelligence inputs about an interstate gang involved in the illegal trafficking of protected wildlife.
Acting on the information, an STF team conducted surveillance in Gorakhpur and raided the accused’s house at around 3.30 pm on Tuesday.
“The accused was found in possession of 380 rose-ringed parakeets and 200 red munias, both protected species, along with seven iron cages,” the STF said in a statement.
During interrogation, Seraj allegedly disclosed that he was part of a gang engaged in trafficking protected birds and wildlife.
“He told us that the birds were procured from forest areas in Balrampur and Lakhimpur and supplied to traffickers in Bihar, West Bengal, Delhi and other states at high prices,” it said.
The STF said the operation was launched after receiving specific information that the accused was keeping a large number of protected birds at his residence. The agency coordinated with the WCCB and the Forest Department before conducting the raid.
A case has been registered against the accused under relevant provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, as amended in 2022, and the Indian Forest Act, 1927.
Further legal action is being taken by the Forest Department’s Gorakhpur Headquarters Range Division, the statement said. PTI KIS PRK
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