In a major development in the ongoing Rajura tiger poaching case, forest officials have arrested another accused from Shillong, bringing the total number of arrests to 12. The accused, Kaplian Mung, is the husband of Ning San Lun, a central figure in the tiger skin trafficking network.
Mung was apprehended and produced before the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court in Rajura on Monday, where he was remanded to forest custody until March 9.
Forest officials believe Mung played a significant role in the financial operations of the poaching syndicate, particularly in transactions supporting Lun’s activities. “We have identified at least one financial transaction between Mung and an intermediary, which prompted his arrest,” an official revealed.
Mung is the fourth key individual linked to a tiger skin and body part smuggling ring stretching across several northern Indian states. Previous arrests include Lun, her associate Lalneisung, and Zamkhankap, a hawala operator from Aizawl, Mizoram.
The financial angle of the case has drawn the attention of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which has formally sought documents from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe hawala links within the racket. However, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has not been approached, and ED has not formally initiated its own probe yet.
Authorities have faced challenges in questioning Zamkhankap, who only speaks Mizo. Despite several requests, the Mizoram Forest Department has not provided a certified translator. The SIT has twice sought assistance from a Mizo-speaking beautician, but officials stress that a trained and court-recognized translator is essential for effective interrogation and legal proceedings.
Meanwhile, officials say the actual number of tigers poached by the notorious Baheliya gang, led by Ajit Pardhi, remains unclear. Pardhi was active in the Rajura area and is considered a key figure in the broader poaching syndicate.
