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World Pangolin Day: India tops seizure incidents’ list

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Between 2015-2021, India topped the list of seizures with 287 incidents, while Mainland China topped the list of seizures by volume (93,500 kgs) and individuals (5,600) of the threatened pangolins, the most trafficked wild mammal in the world.

There are eight species of pangolins found in two continents, four each in Africa and Asia and they range from ‘Vulnerable’ to ‘Critically Endangered’. Pangolins are in demand mostly for medicinal use.

On World Pangolin Day on Saturday, wildlife organisation ‘Traffic’ that works to help study, monitor, and influence action to curb illegal wildlife trade, has compiled data that shows over 1,141 confiscations involving both African and Asian pangolin species, have taken place in Asia from 2015-2021.

As many as 21,857 whole pangolins were seized, dead or alive; 3,33,515 kgs of whole pangolins or parts were seized, the data showed. Of these, 78 per cent seizures were pangolin scales.

A whopping 82 per cent seizures were made in Asia with maximum incidents recorded in India (287) followed by Vietnam (242), Mainland China (239), Indonesia (117) and Malaysia (56). In volume terms, as high as 91 per cent of the total volume was seized by Asian countries again, with 93,500 kg from Mainland China, followed by 70,300 kg in Vietnam, 56,800 kg in Hong Kong SAR, 54,400 kg in Malaysia and 29,100 kg in Singapore.

Of the total number of individual pangolins seized, 84 per cent were confiscated by Mainland China (5,600) leading the list followed by Taiwan (4,000), Vietnam (3,600), Indonesia (2,900) and Malaysia (2,200), the Traffic data showed.

Traffic released a poster on Saturday to mark the World Pangolin Day for spreading awareness on the issue. It draws attention that the period 2017-2019 saw some of the largest confiscations, mostly involving African pangolin scales. These two years saw over 609 seizure incidents in Asia, accounting for 244,600 kg scales and 10,971 individuals.

Pangolin confiscations from 2020-2021, however, showed a dip from previous years with some 233 incidents involving 13,389 kg of scales and 247 individuals.

“This is likely an impact from disruption in movement of products through the global transportation system from the Covid-19 pandemic rather than an actual reduction in poaching levels,” Traffic officials said adding: “These numbers should be treated with caution, as they are likely transient and as the world resumes its operations, trafficking levels (and their potential detection) are likely to pick up.”

Talking about making efforts to end poaching, Saket Badola of Traffic India, said: “Continued closer scrutiny on poaching, trafficking and illegal trade, as well as dedicated efforts to end these threats are paramount for the survival of all pangolins.”

Crime

RG Kar victim’s parents yet to secure death certificate even after six months

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Kolkata, Feb 22: Over six months have passed since the shocking rape and murder of a junior woman doctor at Kolkata’s R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital but her parents are still to get a copy of her death certificate.

The body of the victim was recovered from a seminar hall within the premises of the state-run institution early on August 9 last year.

The victim’s parents have alleged that they have been unable to get the death certificate till now as the R.G. Kar and Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) authorities are shifting the responsibility onto each other.

According to them, the KMC authorities are claiming that since the “place of death” is R.G. Kar, it is the responsibility of the hospital authorities to provide the death certificate.

On the other, the R.G. Kar authorities claim that if a patient dies within the hospital premises or is even brought dead to the hospital, the death certificate will have to be provided by the KMC authorities, the parents added.

The victim’s parents have further claimed that although they have not got a copy of the death certificate, it has been mentioned in the court documents, as per the statement of a medical officer attached to R.G. Kar.

They now say if the death certificate is mentioned in the court documents, why was a copy of the certificate not handed over to them?

Last week, a special court in Kolkata, which had convicted and sentenced civic volunteer Sanjay Roy in the rape and murder case, directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file a fresh progress report on its investigation in the matter on February 24.

Since the special court has already pronounced the sentence for the convict in the main crime of rape and murder, legal circles feel that the fresh progress report will be related to the angle of tampering with the evidence in the case.

It is learnt that the special court had directed the CBI to submit a fresh progress report following a complaint filed by the counsel of the victim’s family accusing the central agency of not updating the court on the progress of investigation in the matter periodically.

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Crime

Ten persons arrested for attack on Congress MP, says Assam CM

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Guwahati, Feb 21: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Friday that ten persons have been arrested in connection with the attack on Congress MP Rakibul Hussain.

Taking to social media platform X, CM Sarma said, “The police have identified the individuals involved in the alleged incident of assault on Congress MP Sri Rakibul Hussain.”

He also mentioned that the actions will be taken as per the law.

The Dhubri MP was attacked while attending a public programme in the Nagaon district.

The Congress MP had to run from the spot wearing a helmet to save himself. The security officers of Hussain sustained minor injuries in the attack.

In a viral video, it was seen that some masked miscreants initially showed black flags to the Congress MP and after that attacked him.

In the video, Hussian was seen fleeing from the spot in a two-wheeler to save himself from the attack.

The incident that happened in the Ruporihat locality drew criticism from the opposition with Congress leaders training guns on the BJP government.

Gaurav Gogoi, Deputy Opposition leader in the Lok Sabha, launched a sharp attack on the BJP government as Congress MP Hussain was attacked on Thursday.

Gogoi said, “In Assam, a Congress Lok Sabha MP is attacked by thugs in broad daylight in a busy marketplace. The goons even attack the police security officers and try to snatch their weapons. All of this is recorded on camera. Yet the Chief Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma refuses to ensure that the thugs will be arrested immediately.”

“The Chief Minister should at least think of his constitutional duty towards Assam Police and the innocent civilians in the marketplace. If the goons had got hold of the machine gun, a terrible tragedy could have taken place. The attitude of the Chief Minister will only embolden the thieves, dacoits, smugglers and those accused of murder. Democracy is under threat and people of Assam want freedom from this gunda raj culture,” he added.

The Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Debabrata Saikia said it was a “failure” of the police and administration.

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Crime

New India Co-operative Bank Scam: EOW Arrests Former CEO Abhimanyu Bhoan

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Mumbai: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has made another arrest in the New India Co-operative Bank scam. Former CEO Abhimanyu Bhoan has been taken into custody, making him the third accused in the case.

The Court has remanded accused into police Custody untill February 28.Bhoan’s arrest follows an ongoing investigation into financial irregularities within the bank, which allegedly led to taken place during his working period.

The authorities suspect his involvement in mismanagement and fraudulent transactions.Further investigation is underway, and officials believe that more arrests may follow in the case.

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