‘42 pieces of Hatha Jodi, knife and cash’: 3 arrested for smuggling monitor lizard parts in Madhya Pradesh

INDORE: In a major action against illegal wildlife trade, the forest department arrested three individuals on Sunday for smuggling body parts of the monitor lizard, locally known as "Hatha Jodi", from the forest range of Bhanpura under the Mandsaur forest division.Divisional Forest Officer, Mandsaur Sanjay Raykhare said they received a tip-off that some individuals were attempting to sell parts of the monitor lizard.Acting swiftly, the forest team deployed an undercover staffer as a customer to meet the suspects. On a pre-decided signal, the forest personnel moved in and detained two suspects on the spot. A search of the accused led to the recovery of 42 pieces of Hatha Jodi, a knife, and some cash.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Vijay, son of Ramesh, a resident of Torniya Nahargarh village, Bhanpura, district Mandsaur; and Samarthnath, son of Singhanath, a resident of Hanumantiya village, Kukdeshwar tehsil, district Neemuch.

Following their interrogation, another accused, Karan alias Dharma Harijan, resident of Kukdeshwar in Neemuch, was also taken into custody.The monitor lizard is listed as a protected species under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and is also included in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which prohibits international trade in these animals or their body parts. A formal case has been registered against the accused and further legal proceedings and investigation are underway.