Seizure of animal organs: Prime suspect still on run

PK Jaiswar

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Amritsar, July 20

Even after lapse of 15 days, the prime suspect in smuggling of organs of endangered species and corals, is yet to be arrested. He was identified as Simer Lugani, a trader in the Majith Mandi area in the walled city which is famous for wholesale dry fruit trade.

We have requested the court for sealing of Lugani’s godown and shop till investigations are completed. Samples of animal organs seized during the raid have been sent for forensic examination in a Dehradun laboratory. The report is expected within a week. — Amneet Singh, Divisional Forest Officer

According to Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Amneet Singh the Forest Department had written to the police for seeking their help in the arrest of the suspect. Both the departments were making efforts for Lugani’s arrest.

Meanwhile, the local court yesterday asked the suspect to surrender and personally appear before it on August 2, the next date of hearing. Lugani’s servant Ramchain, who was arrested at the time of raid from his godown, appeared before the court through video conferencing.

“We have requested the court for sealing of Lugani’s godown and shop till investigations are completed,” the DFO said, while adding that samples of animal organs seized during the raid were sent for forensic examination in a Dehradun laboratory. He said the report was expected within a week.

Acting on a tip-off, the Forest Department in collaboration with the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) confiscated huge quantity of smuggled body parts wild animals and endangered sea coral from the godown of Lugani in the Majitha Mandi area here on July 5. During the raid, officials arrested Lugani’s servant Ramchain on the spot.

The raiding team led by Madhivanan, Assistant Director, WCCB, Sukhwinder Chohan, Range Officer, along with forest guards and staff members, seized huge cache of illegal animal body parts allegedly used for occult rituals. The seizure was made by officials under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Officials seized 38 suspected bear biles, 158 hatha jodi of monitor lizard genital parts, 1.498kg of organ pipe corals, 69 sea fan corals, 4.814kg of gorgonians (corals) and 400 frozen sandfish skink lizard, an exotic species smuggled from the Middle East countries.

A case was registered under Sections 44, 48 and 49 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, in this connection. The Act prohibits trade of wild animals, their body parts or trophies. Illegal import of wildlife is in violation of the Wild Life (Protection) Act. Under Section 51 of the Act, a suspect could be awarded a sentence upto seven years of imprisonment for trading in wildlife. A preliminary analysis of the seized wildlife animal body parts indicates that these were smuggled from various parts of India and the Middle East countries.