In Jharkhand, three individuals have been arrested for the illegal trade of monitor lizard reproductive organs, highlighting ongoing efforts to combat wildlife crime.
Three persons, including a 64-year-old man and his son, were arrested with reproductive organs of monitor lizards in Jharkhand's Ranchi district, officials said on Friday.
The trio was nabbed during a raid at a hotel in Daily Market police station area on Thursday, following a tip-off from the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, they said.
"We recovered 30 dried copulatory organs of monitor lizards from the hotel room, following which they were arrested," Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Ranchi, Shrikant Verma, said.
Trade of these organs is prohibited under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, Verma said.
The accused were sent to judicial custody on Friday, police said, adding, investigation is underway to trace others involved in the case, they said.