PNS | DEHRADUN
The Uttarakhand Special Task Force arrested two men from Kalsi area of Dehradun district with two gallbladders of bears late on Tuesday. The senior superintendent of police of STF Navneet Singh Bhullar said that STF received confidential information about wildlife trafficking in the Chakrata-Kalsi area from the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) in Delhi.
The STF developed the information through local sources and conducted an operation on Tuesday along the Johri-Kalsi-Chakrata road. During the operation, two individuals were taken into custody. The accused identified themselves as Kalam Singh Chauhan (32) and Santu (40), both residents of Kalsi. They were reportedly found in possession of two gallbladders of bears, weighing 19 grammes and eight grammes respectively along with three live 12 bore cartridges.
The SSP informed that the seized gall bladders fall under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, making its trade and possession a serious offense. He stated that a case has been registered against the accused under the Wildlife Protection Act and the Arms Act at Kalsi police station. The STF is conducting further investigations to determine if others are involved in the case. The forest department has also been informed for additional inquiries, he added. Bhullar urged the public to report any information related to wildlife trafficking to the nearest police station or the Uttarakhand STF at 0135-2656202.
