15 endangered Tokay Geckos recovered, three arrested in Dalshingpara

MP | 16 September 2019 | Kolkata: Fifteen live Tokay gecko were recovered from Dalshingpara in Dooars while being smuggled.

Three persons were arrested in connection with the incident. The cost of the geckos is pegged around Rs 12 lakh.

On September 15, the Special Task Force, North Bengal received information regarding the illegal trade of live Tokay Gecko. "At around 6 pm we rushed to Dalsingpara area. Seven

persons were involved in a close bargaining by the road side. We surrounded them. However four of them managed to give us the slip and fled from the spot," stated Sanjay Dutta, Range Officer, Belakoba Range and the Head of the Special Task Force.

In the wee hours of Tuesday the remaining three persons were arrested.

Two bags were recovered from their possession. The bags contained 15 live Tokay Gecko.

"Tokay Gecko (Gekko gecko) is in schedule I Part II reptiles of the Wild Life Protection Act 1972. The arrested persons and the recovered reptiles were brought to Belakoba Range office. The offenders revealed that the Geckos belonged to forests in Assam and were to be smuggled in the international contraband market," said the Range Officer.

The worth of the 15 Tokay Geckos is pegged at 10 lakh rupees in the local market and around Rs 12 lakh in the Nepal market, stated Dutta.

The arrested were identified as Fagu Khariya (34,) Suraj Kharia (22) and Arjun Kharia (male, 24) of Dalsinghpara in Alipurduar district. They were produced at the CJM Court in Jalpaiguri on Monday.