Poisonous snakes, Cobras, Pythons, Crocodiles recovered from passenger's baggage at B'luru Airport
Bengaluru: A significant operation at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) resulted in the rescue of more than 230 reptiles, including cobras, crocodiles, tortoises, and lizards, as Bengaluru Customs sleuths intercepted a wildlife smuggler on Monday night.
The successful operation follows the arrest of the smuggler, who was attempting to transport these creatures alive in two suitcases, according to sources from the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of the Customs.
The incident came to light when the 22-year-old smuggler from Ramnad in Tamil Nadu arrived on a Thai AirAsia flight FD 137 from Bangkok. Acting on suspicions, Customs officials detained and questioned the individual, leading them to discover the smuggled reptiles concealed within his suitcases. The seized creatures comprised poisonous snakes, lizards, and even small crocodiles.
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Among the rescued reptiles were four caimans, nearly 30 iguanas, four monocled cobras, pythons, tortoises, and lizards. The investigation also revealed the tragic fate of a young kangaroo or "joey" that had been hidden within one of the containers, ultimately succumbing to suffocation during transit.
"These wildlife smugglers introduce foreign species like the monocled cobras, originating from Thailand, which could disrupt the local reptile ecosystem if released into the wild," noted a wildlife expert.
The apprehended smuggler has been arrested under section 104 of the Customs Act and has been remanded in judicial custody. Further investigations are underway to determine his connections in Bengaluru and identify potential recipients of the smuggled reptiles.
The rescued animals were repatriated to Thailand on Tuesday night to ensure their safety and appropriate habitat.
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Assam to lift all cases against Koch Rajbongshis in Foreigners' Tribunals: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma
Guwahati, Apr 4 (PTI): The Assam cabinet has decided to lift all cases pending against people from the Koch Rajbongshi community in the Foreigners' Tribunals, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Friday.
They will also no longer carry the tag of 'D' or doubtful voters, he said.
''There are 28,000 cases pending in different Foreigners' Tribunals in the state against people of the community. The cabinet has taken a historic decision of lifting the cases with immediate effect,'' Sarma said at a press conference here after the cabinet meeting.
The government believes that the Koch Rajbongshis are an indigenous community of the state and they are an inextricable part of ''our social and cultural fabric'', he asserted.
The people of this community are poor and have suffered a lot over the years, he said.
''They will no longer carry the tag of foreigners or ‘D’ voters,'' the CM said.
Foreigners Tribunals are quasi-judicial bodies, particularly in Assam, established to determine if a person residing in India is a "foreigner" as defined by the Foreigners Act of 1946, based on the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order of 1964.
These tribunals are designed to address matters related to citizenship and the presence of “foreigners” in India, specifically focusing on cases where someone is suspected of being an illegal immigrant.
There are 100 Foreigners’ Tribunals across Assam.
The Koch Rajbongshis have a sizeable presence in Assam, West Bengal, Meghalaya, and parts of Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan, and they demand Scheduled Tribe status.
