Mhow (Madhya Pradesh): Three persons were arrested after 60kg of wildlife meat was recovered from a car at Mumbai-Agra National Highway at around 4 AM on Tuesday. The car was carrying attendees of Bhopal Ijtema to Mumbai.
The operation was carried out by a joint team of the Mhow Forest Department and the police. The passengers have been taken into custody. The meat, two mobile phones, and a white Innova have been seized by the police. The meat has been sent for sampling, and further investigation into the matter is underway.
According to information, the operation unfolded when an Innova car, on way from Bhopal to Mumbai, was stopped near a highway hotel. Upon inspection, officials discovered 60-65 kilograms of wildlife meat packed in plastic bags.
The accused, identified as Johar Hussein, Salman, and Imtiyaz, revealed that they had procured the meat from Letadi village near Vidisha for Rs 20,000. The trio was reportedly returning from a religious event in Bhopal.
Police investigation
The Forest Department seized two mobile phones from the suspects, one of which remains locked. The Tiger Strike Force, led by officer Anubhav Trivedi, is now spearheading the investigation. Samples of the seized meat have been sent to a forensic laboratory to identify the species and confirm its source. Meanwhile, interrogation of the arrested is underway.
