Guwahati: On 26th June, forest officer Pranjal Baruah from the Biswanth Northern Range was on for a big game. In a joint operation with the Panbazar Police, Baruah managed to entrap Mohammad Yakub Ali, one of the most wanted smuggler and a dreaded rhino poacher. Yakub was nabbed near Meghdoot Bhawan.
For the past one one decade Yakub has been extensively involved in killing of rhinos and smuggling the horn to various centres of north east.
Yakub is wanted in multiple cases of rhino killings and smuggling the horns. From 2012 to 2018 Yakub’s name has appeared in five cases of rhino killings.
Even the CBI was trying to get hold of him. The investigating agency had chargesheeted Yakub in 2014 (Case No. 1591/2014). After that Yakub was declared an absconder.
Yakub had been working with fellow smugglers and poachers from Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. The network was responsible for smuggling and selling of rhino horn and other animal parts into the international market. Moreover, he was also responsible with smuggling and selling weapons and ammunition used for killing the wild animals.
Meanwhile, the newly-appointed minister for environment and forest Parimal Suklabaidya has warned of stern action against those found to involved in any sort of wildlife poaching and destruction of forest property.
“Not only the poachers but those involved in planning and helping such criminals will also be dealt with accordingly. There will be no compromise when it comes to the safety of forest and wild animals,” said Suklabaidya.