Man Held with Barking Deer Antlers and Teeth at ISBT Chingmeirong, Remanded to 15 Days Judicial Custody

In a joint operation by the Central Forest Division and the Wildlife Conservation Committee (WCC), officials have apprehended a man for allegedly attempting to trade wildlife trophies made from the antlers and teeth of a barking deer – a Schedule-I protected species under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

According to forest officials, on October 30, 2025, the Central Forest Division received a tip-off from a reliable source about an individual planning to sell a wildlife trophy. Acting on the information, the Range Forest Officer of Sadar East Range informed the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Central Forest Division, and a special team was constituted to investigate.

The joint team, led by Range Forest Officer Sadar East Range in collaboration with Kshetrimayum Johnson Singh, Secretary of Wildlife Conservation Committee (WCC), posed as interested buyers and negotiated with the suspect, identified as Themhor Ahum, who agreed to meet for the exchange at ISBT Chingmeirong. Upon his arrival, he was apprehended by the team, and two wildlife trophies were seized from his possession. The trophies consisted of wooden heads fitted with barking deer antlers and teeth.

When asked to produce valid documents for possessing or trading the wildlife articles, the accused failed to do so. The seized items were labeled and documented, and Ahum was taken into custody at around 10:30 a.m. on the same day.

Following his arrest, the DFO directed an investigation into the case. During the preliminary inquiry, the accused reportedly pleaded guilty. His statement was officially recorded under Section 50(8)(d) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

The accused has been produced before the court for violating Sections 9, 39, 49(b), and 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (as amended), which prohibit hunting, possession, and trade of protected wildlife and their derivatives. The court has remanded him to 15 days of judicial custody.

Officials reiterated that the Barking Deer (Muntiacus muntjak) is a Schedule-I species (Sl. No. 67, Part A) of the Act, offering it the highest level of legal protection.