SHILLONG: In a coordinated overnight operation by the Pillangkata OP and Umiam PS of Ri Bhoi district in Meghalaya, law enforcement recovered a substantial cache of arms, ammunition, and illegal wildlife items on December 8.
The suspect, identified as a resident of Mizoram, has been taken into custody after the seized items were confiscated from his residence in 9th mile Baridua in the district.
Ri-Bhoi’s Superintendent of Police (SP) Giri Prasad told a national news agency that the arrest was made based on inputs provided by Military Intelligence Unit of the Eastern Command
“The arrested person hails from Mizoram. He was staying at the 9th Mile Baridua area along the Assam-Meghalaya border,” he said.
The seized items include one lower jaw with teeth of a wild boar, 7 deer antlers (horns), 1 deer skull, 1052 AK-47 ammunition, 7 LMG 7.62 ammunition, 14 INSAS 5.56 ammunition, 30 .32 pistol ammunition, 3 empty cases, 1 tear smoke grenade, 1 hand grenade, 1 INSAS empty magazine, 3 AK47 empty magazines, and 34 stamp seals from various government departments.
The case has been officially registered under the Khanapara police station, bearing case under various Sections including RW sec 51 Wildlife Protection Act.
Lauding the efforts of the police department, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma took to social media to announce the successful operation and the seizure.
He stated, “The @RibhoiPolice through its unwavering resolve and tireless efforts have dealt a decisive blow to the forces of darkness targeting our state. One notorious interstate criminal who is entangled in a web of illegal activities that spanned from trafficking of arms and precious wildlife as well as forgery of official documents is arrested…”
