Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 04 2010:
In view of the increasing volume of illegal trading in wildlife produces and medicinal plants along Moreh sector of Indo-Myanmar border, an office of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau has been opened.
The office was opened at Moreh last month following reports of seizure of wildlife products and rare, medicinal plants by security forces and Forest officials along Imphal-Moreh sector of NH 39 and at Moreh, said an official source.
Another parallel office has been opened at Imphal.
The Centre has been keeping an eye on this illegal trade as there have been reports that truck loads of sandal wood brought from South Indian States are exported to South Asian countries through Moreh and Myanmar, conveyed the source.
There have been repeated cases of seizure of wildlife products like skulls, bones, skins and horns of wild animals from Manipur and other area of the North East region.
Notably, AR seized 30 truck loads of red sandal wood from Imphal-Moreh road in 2008.On the other hand, Forest officials have been facing serious difficulties in checking illegal trading at Moreh and/or along Imphal-Moreh road due to the volatile law and order situation.
As the officials are legally bound to produce arrested illegal traders before a court within 24 hours, they faced serious difficulties in taking arrested criminals to Imphal without security escorts.
Forest officials often find it hard to obtain police assistance.
Under such circumstances, it is no easy task to prosecute those involved in such illegal trading even if they are arrested.