Wildlife Smuggler Caught with 285 Monitor Lizard Parts

A wildlife smuggler, Deepak Garu, was apprehended with 285 monitor lizard body parts in Rajasthan. Nabbed by the Haridwar Forest Division team on a tip-off, he is connected to an inter-state smuggling racket. With co-accused Aftab alias Bhura already in custody, Garu was sent to judicial remand.

A wildlife organ smuggler was nabbed and 285 monitor lizard body parts were recovered from him, officials here said on Tuesday.

Deepak Garu was apprehended from Shahpur Nagar in Rajasthan by a Haridwar Forest Division team on August 11 following a tip-off from the Wildlife Crime Bureau, New Delhi, according to Divisional Forest Officer Vaibhav Singh. A Haridwar court sent Garu to 14 days' judicial remand on Monday, he informed PTI.

Garu is a co-accused along with Aftab alias Bhura in connection with an inter-state wildlife smuggling racket. Bhura was arrested on August 6. Garu's whereabouts were traced on the basis of WhatsApp chats he had with Bhura, Singh said.

(With inputs from agencies.)